In the 2025 Encyclical for the Sunday of Orthodoxy, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA reflect on the restoration of holy icons and its significance for the unity of the Orthodox Church. The Assembly highlights the decision of the 7th Ecumenical Council in 787 and the final restoration of icons in 843, underscoring that the triumph of Orthodoxy is ultimately a victory of faith over fear and unity over division.
Drawing inspiration from Saint Paul’s words (1 Corinthians 1:10), the Assembly urges Orthodox Christians to stand together in love and harmony, just as the Saints of the 8th and 9th centuries did in defense of the faith. The Assembly emphasizes that unity is not about erasing differences but embracing what binds believers together in Christ.
Additionally, the Assembly introduces “Assembly of Bishops Sunday”, recognized in conjunction with the Sunday of Orthodoxy to promote the work of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the United States. It encourages the faithful to learn about and support the Assembly’s ministries as a way to strengthen Orthodox Christian unity.
Concluding the message, the Archbishop and the Assembly extend their paternal blessings and prayers for a spiritually enriching Lenten journey.
Read the Encyclical below:
Dearly beloved faithful in Christ,
Each year on the first Sunday of Great Lent, the Sunday of Orthodoxy, we lift our voices and our hearts in joyful remembrance of the restoration of the holy icons to their rightful place in the life of the Church. Today, we celebrate triumphally and with humility the resulting Unity of the Orthodox Church manifested through this decision of the 7th Ecumenical Council that met in Nicaea in 787, under the aegis of Byzantine Empress Irene and, subsequently, the definitive Restoration of Holy Icons in Constantinople on the First Sunday of Great and Holy Lent in 843, henceforth known as Orthodoxy Sunday, under the patronage of the Byzantine Regent, Saint Theodora, and, the Ecumenical Patriarch, Saint Methodios the Confessor. Now, here in the United States of America, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops is tasked with preserving, manifesting, and promoting this same mystery of Unity exemplified and confessed with courage by the Saints so long ago. Thus, inspired by the same sense of joy, witness and responsibility “Assembly of Bishops Sunday” is now recognized throughout the country in conjunction with the Sunday of Orthodoxy.
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul cries out across the ages with a message that still speaks to our hearts today: “I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). This powerful pericope crossed with the example of restoration celebrated on the Sunday of Orthodoxy inspires us to always rise above division and to stand together in the unshakable love of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. Indeed, the restoration of the holy icons is the restoration of unity through the victory of faith over fear, of salvation over condemnation, of a God incarnate over an unknown deity. Unity prevails when we all open up our hearts and minds in selfless love, transformed by grace in the mystery of Christ. Just as we venerate icons, we too become icons to one another, united in one body, that is the Church, just as the Saints of the 8th and 9th Centuries chose to stand firm, witnessing God’s glory. Thus, let us be challenged by Saint Paul’s words by being “united in the same mind and the same judgement.” Let us not harden our differences but rather embrace what unites us in Christ.
As we celebrate Assembly of Bishops Sunday – along with the Sunday of Orthodoxy – we encourage you all to learn about the Ministries of the Assembly as well as to support our sincere efforts for Orthodox Christian Unity through the steadfast and generous gifts of your time, talent, and treasure.
With Paternal love in Christ and prayers for a blessed Lenten journey, on the 9th of March, 2025.
† ELPIDOPHOROS
Archbishop of America
Chair
and the members of the Executive Committee of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America
