The year 2025 begins with the Archiepiscopal Encyclical of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, addressed to all the Christian faithful of the Holy Archdiocese of America. This encyclical marks the beginning of a remarkable year that coincides with the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.
The Archbishop calls on the faithful to delve deeper into the Nicene Creed, which stands as the foundational expression of Orthodox Christian teaching and heritage. At the same time, he announces a series of commemorative events and celebrations, including a major pilgrimage to the historic sites of Rome, Constantinople, and Nicaea.
Throughout the encyclical, the importance of education and youth is emphasized, with special reference to the St. Basil Academy and the pivotal role of the Philoptochos Society in supporting it. The Archbishop invites all to nurture their faith, support the younger members of the Church and embrace the New Year with love, generosity and spiritual growth.
Read below the Encyclical
Unto the Most Reverend and Right Reverend Hierarchs, Pious Priests and Deacons, Monks and Nuns, Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils, Honorable Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Members of Leadership 100, Day and Afternoon Schools, Philoptochos Societies, Youth, Greek Orthodox Organizations, and the entirety of the Christ-loving Plenitude of the Sacred Archdiocese of America:
In One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
(The Symbol of the Faith)
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,
As we enter into the New Year of 2025, and the Seventeen Hundredth Anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, let us commence this first day of God’s Grace with a re-commitment to a full embrace of the Creed — the Symbol of our Faith — that first emerged from this Holy Council. This Creed was perfected at the Second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople fifty-six years later and reaffirmed at every Ecumenical Council thereafter. The Creed’s Twelve Articles, standing for the teaching of the Twelve Apostles, are what define us as Orthodox Christians who accept the fullness of the Lord’s Gospel.
There will be many celebrations and observances of this historic anniversary throughout the year, including a special Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to Rome, Constantinople and Nicaea, July 14-24 (https://www.goarch.org/-/rome-new-rome). But every member of our Church can journey in an internal pilgrimage to become more deeply immersed in these Twelve Articles of our Faith, which are doors of knowledge that lead us into a more profound and richer relationship with God and with one another.
The most enlightened theologians of our Church — like Saint Basil the Great, whom we celebrate this day — forged the Creed so that even the simplest of Christians could possess this remarkable synthesis of Christian doctrine. Our National Institution of Saint Basil’s Academy, which bears this saintly hierarch’s name, stands as a reminder of how we are to raise our youth in the fulness of the Faith. On this Feast Day, then, our Philoptochos Sisterhoods around the country are collecting funds for its support. National Philoptochos has resolved that 50% of the monies collected today will be allocated to the Academy, and all the remaining funds will be directed toward other youth programs. Because giving our young people full access to their Faith by instilling in them the truths of the Creed, might be the greatest gift we can bestow upon our precious children.
May all our hearts open with loving generosity for Saint Basil’s Academy, and may this New Year of 2025 be an occasion for renewing God’s grace through a deeper understanding of the Creed, so that we may be filled with the rich blessings of His divine wisdom and enlightenment.
With paternal love in Christ,
† ELPIDOPHOROS
Archbishop of America
