On Friday, July 24th, Orthodox and Catholic Christians throughout the United States were called to join in prayer – some 2 million Orthodox and 70 million Catholics. Fr. George is deeply thankful to those who attended and to those who viewed via livestream video. If you did not have a chance to join us, please read the Akathist Hymn found inside His Eminence Metropolitan’s letter below.

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and the Holy Eparchial Synod ask that every Church toll its bells in lamentation on Friday, July 24th. They call for every flag of every kind that is raised on the Church property be lowered to half-mast on this day. And they enjoin every Church in our Holy Archdiocese to chant the Akathist Hymn in the evening of this day, just as we chant it on the Fifth Friday of the Great and Holy Fast. Let us, in this time of grief and mourning, appeal to the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. She is the “only Hope of the hopeless” (Ἡ τῶν ἀπελπισμένων μόνη Ἐλπίς), and as we chant to Her in the Akathist, “the Repository of the Wisdom of God, the Treasury of His Foreknowledge” (Σοφίας Θεοῦ Δοχεῖον, Προνοίας Αὐτοῦ Ταμεῖον, οἶκος P).

Today, July 10th, the Turkish President signed a decree that converts Hagia Sophia, the foremost Christian Cathedral in the entire world for nearly 1,000 years, into a mosque. So many emotions are being felt and expressed, including rage and sorrow, from around the world.

St. Christopher Outreach Ministry announced its second annual golf fundraising event will take place at Flat Creek Country Club in Peachtree City, Georgia, on Monday, August 24th. All proceeds will benefit St. Christopher Outreach Ministry, The Bedford School and The Joseph Sams School.

To maintain social distancing, Fr. George will announce the various commemorations and only the parishioners celebrating special events will be invited to come to the Solea to share and have their picture taken. Fr. George will be by the Chantor's Stand (Analogion). Please drop off your donation in the collection basket as you enter the church.

Fr. George asks parishioners to download this special service and pray with him on Sunday, July 5th, thanking God for our country and asking His continued blessings. May God bless America always.