Dear Brother Archons and Friends,
This year we celebrate the Holy Nativity of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ amid the difficulties and distress caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, renewing our joy and hope in Him amid the sorrow and anxiety that afflicts the world today. Looking back on the tumultuous year 2020, we see what an abundance of blessings we have received from the Triune God. Above all, we are grateful for your ongoing labors on behalf of our Mother Church, and the continuing gift of our worldwide spiritual father, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, now in his thirtieth year of Patriarchal ministry, the longest ever in the history of Christianity.
We likewise thank our loving God for the extraordinary ministry of our spiritual father, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, who is revitalizing and unifying the Archdiocese of America and strengthening the faith of Orthodox Christians all over the nation.
Amid our gratitude, we also offer prayer for those who approach Christmas bearing heavy burdens, including the Christians of Turkey and others who are suffering in various ways for their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We Archons look ahead to 2021 with hope in the Lord and His All-Holy Mother, and we will continue to do everything we possibly can to protect and defend the religious freedom of our Mother Church of Constantinople and of Christians who are suffering persecution all over the world.
Once again, this season as always, we express our unstinting gratitude for the greatest Christmas gifts of all, our spiritual fathers:
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew,
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,
The venerable Metropolitans of the Holy Eparchial Synod,
Protopresbyter Father Alexander Karloutsos and all our beloved parish priests under the jurisdiction of the Holy Mother Church and finally, we offer thanksgiving to hour Heavenly Father for our Brother Archons for their devotion to the Holy Mother Church of Constantinople.
Maria and I and our children and grandchildren wish our brother Archons and their beloved families a joyous and blessed Christmas.
Anthony J. Limberakis, MD
Archon Aktouarios
National Commander
