Greetings and warm regards. The picture above portrays “The Mystical Icon of our Holy Church, depicting the persecutors and heretics, through the ages, who fight against her and prevail not.” Having begun the new year of 2021, it illustrates my pastoral concern that while we live in difficult and challenging times, as sons and daughters of the Incarnate Christ (represented by those on the ark with our Savior), we are called to witness His love, peace, mercy, and forgiveness amidst all evil, including the pandemic that continues. Through our faith and commitment to our Lord, Jesus Christ, we can overcome all obstacles leading to everlasting life in His Kingdom and hopefully draw those who do not believe into His Holy Body. [click to read more]
Read the great report from Pete Kleto following the delivery of the Vasilopita that Susan Kleto made in response to our Virtual Online Vasilopita Sales benefiting St. Basil's Academy.
Join us for the 1st Digital Fellowship with Elder Ephraim, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi Mount Athos and the Orthodox Christian Network OCN this Friday night, December 11th, at 1:00 p.m. EST.
Click to View Items & Order... All proceeds from this fundraiser help us fund the many ministries that our Philoptochos Chapter supports locally, regionally, and nationally. Thank you for your continuous support."
Parishioners are invited to our monthly Paraklesis Service at church this Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. Fr. George will lead our choir in singing this beautiful supplicatory service to the Theotokos, asking her to pray for the health and welfare of our loved ones and those who are sick and suffering. If you submitted names in August, Fr. George will offer them. If you did not, click to submit your names. If you submitted previously and want to add names, simply click and add the additional names. Thank you.
Beginning Sunday, September 20th, our religious education classes will begin their new school year. Click to learn classes, teachers, and schedule for the 2020-2021 school year.
During this meeting, our GreekFest leadership will present tentative plans for GreekFest 2021. Parishioners who use sign-up genius to attend church services on this day may stay and participate in person using their masks and social distancing guidelines. Those who view church services on this day via livestreaming video will be given a zoom videoconference link in advance of the meeting to use to connect to it. Plan now to participate as noted. The Parish Council will be mailing more detailed information prior to the meeting.
Katie Tsahakis, Director of our Religious Education Ministry at St. Christopher Church has been asked to be a Guest Panalist on "Let's Talk Live with Fr. Christopher Metropulos and Paula Marchman" this Thursday at 7:00 p.m. They will discuss "Parenting & Back to School During the Pandemic", sponsored by Orthodox Christian Network. It will be live-streamed on OCN's Facebook page and also offered via Zoom.
On Friday, July 24th, Orthodox and Catholic Christians throughout the United States were called to join in prayer – some 2 million Orthodox and 70 million Catholics. Fr. George is deeply thankful to those who attended and to those who viewed via livestream video. If you did not have a chance to join us, please read the Akathist Hymn found inside His Eminence Metropolitan’s letter below.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and the Holy Eparchial Synod ask that every Church toll its bells in lamentation on Friday, July 24th. They call for every flag of every kind that is raised on the Church property be lowered to half-mast on this day. And they enjoin every Church in our Holy Archdiocese to chant the Akathist Hymn in the evening of this day, just as we chant it on the Fifth Friday of the Great and Holy Fast. Let us, in this time of grief and mourning, appeal to the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. She is the “only Hope of the hopeless” (Ἡ τῶν ἀπελπισμένων μόνη Ἐλπίς), and as we chant to Her in the Akathist, “the Repository of the Wisdom of God, the Treasury of His Foreknowledge” (Σοφίας Θεοῦ Δοχεῖον, Προνοίας Αὐτοῦ Ταμεῖον, οἶκος P).
His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios has asked Metropolis of Atlanta clergy to speak on this important matter, after which each of our parish families might offer a Memorial Service after Divine Liturgy on Sunday July 19th, to honor those who lost their lives as a result of the invasion. In support, Fr. George will feature this historical event in our Adult Religious Education Class this Sunday at 4:00 p.m.
Today, July 10th, the Turkish President signed a decree that converts Hagia Sophia, the foremost Christian Cathedral in the entire world for nearly 1,000 years, into a mosque. So many emotions are being felt and expressed, including rage and sorrow, from around the world.
St. Christopher Outreach Ministry announced its second annual golf fundraising event will take place at Flat Creek Country Club in Peachtree City, Georgia, on Monday, August 24th. All proceeds will benefit St. Christopher Outreach Ministry, The Bedford School and The Joseph Sams School.
To maintain social distancing, Fr. George will announce the various commemorations and only the parishioners celebrating special events will be invited to come to the Solea to share and have their picture taken. Fr. George will be by the Chantor's Stand (Analogion). Please drop off your donation in the collection basket as you enter the church.