With the blessings of Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta and Fr. Nathanael Symeonides, Director, Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, Interfaith and Church-World Relations, Fr. George Tsahakis served as Fr. Nathanael's proxy at this Steering Committee Meeting of Christian Churches Together (CCT), May 2-3, 2016. Topics discussed and acted upon included the upcoming 2017 Annual Convocation, the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, the potential role of CCT in promoting anti-pornography and human/sex trafficking ministries and other activities.

Pope Francis, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, have met on the Greek island of Lesvos to demonstrate their profound concern for the tragic situation of the numerous refugees, migrants and asylum seekers who have come to Europe fleeing from situations of conflict and, in many cases, daily threats to their survival.

With our brothers, Pope Francis and Archbishop Ieronymos, we are here today to express our solidarity and support for the Greek people, who have welcomed and cared for you. And we are here to remind you that – even when people turn away from us – nevertheless “God is our refuge and strength; God is our help in hardship. Therefore, we shall not be afraid” (Ps 45: 2-3).

Pope Francis, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, have met on the Greek island of Lesvos to demonstrate their profound concern for the tragic situation of the numerous refugees, migrants and asylum seekers who have come to Europe fleeing from situations of conflict and, in many cases, daily threats to their survival.

2-part report highlighting the Ecumenical Councils, the Autocephalous Churches, the Prepatory Work, and the upcoming Great & Holy Council in June, 2016

With its stunningly attractive new fence encircling the property, our DRC staff welcomed the counselors and participants of our Metropolis Lenten Youth Retreat. At the same time, it is hosting the St. Christopher Church Parish Council strategic planning retreat.

His Holiness Pope Francis, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece will visit the island of Lesbos in the near future in order to meet with and support the refugees there.

Metropolitan Alexios celebrated the Veneration of the Holy Cross at Annunciation Cathedral on April 3rd. He was joined by Fr. Nathanael Symeonides, Fr. George Tsahakis, Fr. Paul Kaplanis, Fr. Christos Mars, our Cathedral family, many Metropolis visitors and our Archons of the Ecumenical Throne.

Metropolis of Atlanta Archons, spouses, and guests gathered for dinner, fellowship, and special presentations by Fr. Nathanael Symeonides and His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta. Fr. Symeonides is the Director of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, Interfaith & Church-World Relations at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

More than 80 Parish Council members from our 74 parishes in eight states gathered on Saturday, April 2nd at Annunciation Cathedral to review and share our ministries and opportunities in the Metropolis.

Members of the Diakonia Deca Board met on Saturday, April 2nd at the Metropolis Office.

On Friday, April 1st, nearly 50 members of the Metropolis Council met in Atlanta to share the progress of our strategic planning program and the Metropolis ministries being offered and planned.

Here’s an example of authentic grass roots fundraising. Congratulations Metropolitan Alexios and the Atlanta Community. Axios to all!

Over 70 college students from 8 states gathered at the Diakonia Retreat Center March 25-27, 2016 for their Bi-Annual WorkDaze Retreat.

The Summer Program for Young Orthodox Scholars provides promising High School and transfer students the opportunity to earn college credit while challenging themselves intellectually and spiritually. Students will live in residence on Eastern University’s campus with a select group of peers engaged in rigorous coursework and discussion of Great Books by Orthodox Christian literary figures.

The Orthodox Metropolitan of Belgium, Athenagoras (Ecumenical Patriarchate) has called for all religious leaders of Belgium to unite their voices and forces against terrorism.

On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew con-celebrated with the current members of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios joined His Brother Hierarchs, including His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver, His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco and His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas of the Dardanelles, along with Metropolitan Tikhon of the OCA.

Our Metropolis of Atlanta Philoptochos Society offered its 10th Annual Spiritual Retreat at our beautiful Diakonia Retreat Center, March 18-20.

On Saturday, March 12th, Jay Sekulow of the American Center for Law & Justice spoke about Christian Genocide in Naples, FL. He encouraged us to petition our government and seek redress for the injustices against Christians, recognizing the slaughter of Christians in the Middle East as genocide.

Patriarchal and Synodical Encyclical on the Convocation of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church