“The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
the plans of His heart to all generations.” (Psalm 33:11)

I greet you with love and joy in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and welcome you to our website. I pray that this website will not only inform and instruct the faithful, but also will reach out to others, Christian and non-Christian alike, who have little or no knowledge of the treasures of our ancient Faith, but a have deep yearning for the Truth, and the Love and Saving Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8).

The city in which our Metropolis offices are located is a reflection of the context and environment of the whole Metropolis of Atlanta. Atlanta is a modern, international transportation hub, complete with tall buildings, international commerce, and traffic. Yet, though it is definitely a city of the future, its roots are firmly planted in the past. Such traditional Southern values as courtesy, hospitality, love of church and family, and respect for the past are still important elements in our daily lives.

This is the paradigm of our Metropolis. Within it, we also have the juxtaposition of the old and the new. We have the St. Photios National Shrine, commemorating our ancestors who arrived on these shores in 1768, and celebrating our Hellenic heritage throughout the United States of America. Their bravery and perseverance enabled them to face the many challenges of a new land, and indeed, their Orthodox faith sustained them with the strength to meet those challenges. Today the St. Photios Shrine and its magnificent chapel is a bright beacon to the faithful, sustaining and honoring our Orthodox Faith and Hellenic heritage.

In addition, Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana, is the oldest Greek Orthodox Church in the Western Hemisphere, dating from 1864. Today, Holy Trinity, a vital and vibrant parish community, continues to serve the Greek Orthodox faithful throughout southern Louisiana.

Yet our Metropolis is also home to the communications ministry “Come Receive the Light” and Orthodox Christian Network, produced in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the only Orthodox Christian radio program distributed nationwide through satellite and over the Internet by utilizing the latest communication technology.

At our Diakonia Retreat Center in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina, we are building a legacy for the future. The entire Metropolis family shares a dream and a vision of providing a beautiful sanctuary where people of all ages may strengthen and deepen their faith through worship, education, culture, and fellowship.

I ask you to join me in giving glory and thanksgiving to our Almighty God and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit that inspires and enlightens us, for the abundant blessings we have received and continue to receive every day. One of the greatest blessings is, of course, the unselfish and often unknown and unacknowledged service of our devoted priests, presvyteres, and their families. Every day, in ways great and small, they strive to be examples to the faithful in leading Christ-centered lives, often without encouragement or appreciation. Therefore, I urge all our faithful to care for our priests, presvyteres, and their families, love them, pray for them, and support them.

Of course, without the dedication and commitment of our laity, and their loving and selfless service of hands and hearts, we would never be able to accomplish our goals. We are indeed grateful not only for their faithful and generous service, but more importantly for the gift of their prayers, encouragement and support.

By strengthening the unity and faith of our people, we will be able to improve existing ministries and programs and implement new ones, building the future upon the solid foundations of our shared past “by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind… Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” Phillipians 2:2-6.

Having this in mind, we are not constantly thinking of what we have accomplished, but rather draw on the past, to learn from our history so that we may, with prayer and hope, turn our dreams into reality. For this, we must accept the challenge to step out boldly in faith, to joyfully take all opportunities to work together, for the glory of God and for all generations to come. It is my fervent prayer that God will enable us all to accomplish His mighty work. May God bless us and be with us always, especially as we plan for the future! “ For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer. 29:11). I remain,

Your co-worker in the Lord’s Vineyard,
Paternally yours with love in Christ,
+His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios

---