May 13, 2021

To the Reverend Clergy, Parish Council Presidents, Philoptochos Presidents, Archons, Youth, and all the Faithful of the Metropolis of Atlanta:

My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

Χριστός ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς ἀνέστη!
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

I greet you with love and joy in the name of our Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, praying that the Paschal light continues to illumine your hearts, now and always.

As we continue to observe this year's bicentennial of Greek Independence, the Metropolis uses this historic moment to focus on a somber anniversary in the struggle for Hellenism: the Fall of the Queen City of Constantinople, on May 29th, 1453. If we look at March 25th, 1821 as the fulfillment of the 400-year struggle to regain our freedom, we commemorate the Fall of the City as a memorial to those who fell in defense of their faith and country, and even as part of an ongoing struggle to maintain religious freedom in Constantinople.

Knowing this, the Metropolis has scheduled a special weekend of events to commemorate the Fall of the Queen City:

• On Saturday May 29th there will be an in-person program at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Atlanta, at 11 AM (also available to view over live-stream at www.atlgoc.org/live-stream) which will feature a presentation by Mr. Theodoros Dimopoulos, General Consul of Greece, entitled From the Fall of Constantinople to the Renaissance of Hellenism, a special presentation by Dr. Constantine Kokenes, The Last Days of Constantinople: Narrative and Laments of the Fall, as well as a memorial service for those who lost their lives in 1453 & 1821.  For more information, please click on the flyer available here.
   

• On Sunday May 30th at 6 PM, the Orthodox Christian Academy of the Metropolis of Atlanta will sponsor the Zoom webinar presentation from two esteemed Orthodox Christian lecturers: the first, from Dr. Anthony Kaldellis is called The Homeland, the Diaspora & the Fall of Constantinople, and the second, From Hellenes to Roimoi and Back Again is by Dr. Alexander Kitroeff. For more information, please click on the flyer available here; to register click: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lf-qtrjMoHNzPfo6wztoSxqPFfZTYXL1Q. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Just as we know that our ancestors' fight for freedom continues to affect our lives even up to today, my hope is that our communities will each do their utmost to participate in these programs which have as much to say about 2021 as 1453, or 1821. Therefore, please give maximum advertisement to these events through bulletins, emails, and other forms of social media. I remain

Yours with paternal love and blessings in the Risen Christ,
 
+ A L E X I O S
Metropolitan of Atlanta