GREEK REPUBLIC
CHURCH of the G.O.C. of GREECE
HOLY SYNOD
KANINGOS 32 (3rd floor)
106 82 ΑΘΗΝΑΙ
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ΕΛΛΑΣ - GREECE
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Protocol no. γ-1828

ENCYCLICAL

To all the clergy and the people of the Holy Metropolis of America:

Most Reverend Fathers, most honorable Parish Council Members and all the blessed Christians of the Holy Metropolis of America who hold fast to the sacred traditions: Grace and peace be unto you from God, and prayer and blessing from us.

Given the unfavorable condition of his health, being plagued by illness due to a stroke he suffered eight years ago, His Eminence, Metropolitan Pavlos of America, stated once again before the Holy Synod of the Church of the G.O.C. during its meeting on October 10/23, 2013, his inability to exercise his pastoral responsibilities smoothly. He therefore asked that his resignation from the throne of the Metropolis be accepted. The Holy Synod accepted the request, but it asked His Eminence to continue exercising his pastoral duties until a Locum Tenens is appointed at the next Synod meeting.

The Holy Synod, meeting on November 6/19, 2013, discussed at length the issue of the pastorate of the Holy Metropolis of America after the acceptance of His Eminence, Metropolitan Pavlos's resignation. After discussion, the Holy Synod decided to appoint His Beatitude, Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens and all-Greece, as the Locum Tenens of the Holy Metropolis of America. Therefore, with the promulgation of the present encyclical all the clergy of the Holy Metropolis of America will commemorate the name of His Beatitude, Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens, until the election of a new Metropolitan by the hierarchy of the Church of the G.O.C. of Greece. Until then, His Beatitude will instruct his representative hierarchs in the settlement of issues, and he or his representative will preside over the Holy Eparchial Synod and the Metropolitan Council of America.

Diocesan priests wishing to communicate with His Beatitude concerning developing pastoral issues may communicate with His Grace, Bishop Photios of Marathon. His Grace, Bishop Demetrius of Boston, is given the responsibility of dealing with the extraordinary liturgical needs and movements of priests within the parishes. Those with issues concerning the Holy Eparchial Synod of America may communicate with Hieromonk Savvas Anastasiou. Those with issues concerning the Metropolitan Council may communicate with the Executive Committee of the Metropolitan Council.

His Eminence, Metropolitan emeritus Pavlos of America enjoys the respect and trust of all the members of the Synod, but it was completely understood that his being loaded down with jurisdictional responsibilities was extremely burdensome to his health. We hope that, finally being delivered from the onerous burden of pastoral responsibilities, he will better confront his health issues.

We call on all clergy and laity of the Holy Metropolis to pray for His Eminence, Metropolitan Pavlos’s health and also for the emergence of a worthy hierarch to the Metropolitan throne. In this regard, bestowing the prayers and blessings of our Holy Synod upon you all, we pray that the Giver of every good thing always provide you with rich gifts and His grace. May His grace and infinite mercy be with you all.

THE HOLY SYNOD

In the year of salvation MMXIII the 23rd of November / 6th of December

THE HOLY SYNOD

The Archbishop

† KALLINIKOS of Athens