All Saints Monastery in Calverton located on the eastern of on Long Island, New York, welcomed Archbishop Elpidophoros of America on the Sunday of All Saints, observed on the first Sunday after the Holy Pentecost. Chancellor of the Archdiocesan District Fr. Elias Villis celebrated the Divine Liturgy.
The monastery’s chapel was filled with faithful who gathered prayerfully to celebrate the feast day, which included the blessing of the Artoclasia. In his remarks to the community, Archbishop Elpidophoros read from his recent Encyclical on National Presvyteras Sunday: “This year, on the Sunday of All Saints, we are also called to remember with great gratitude and appreciation the National Sisterhood of Presvyteres .
This particular Sunday, honoring the hundreds of Presvyteres and Diakonisses of our Church, was chosen because it is the closest Holy Day to the feast of the Sisters of Lazaros, (June 4th). Together, Saints Mary and Martha manifest the active way of service, Martha, and the contemplative way of devotion, Mary.”
The National Sisterhood of Presvyteres brings both of these aspects of Saints Mary and Martha together in a paradigm of service and ministry throughout the Parishes of the Sacred Archdiocese of America.
Through their own good works and initiatives, our Sisters in Christ exemplify the aspiration for holiness to which we are all called by God,” Archbishop Elpidophoros said. He noted the sacrifices of the Presvyteras and Diakonisses who labor tirelessly in our communities to “enhance the atmosphere of grace and peace that are the gift of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. They model the vocation of self-sacrifice and generosity that is essential to the life of holiness: self-sacrifice, in that they so often put the family of the Church before their own, and generosity, because they share with freedom and grace their spouses, the Presbyters and Deacons who serve the Church.”
