The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America has issued a message for the Sunday of Orthodoxy, emphasizing the enduring significance of unity in the life of the Church and encouraging faithful participation in the ministries of the Assembly.
Reflecting on the first Sunday of Great Lent, the hierarchs state: “On the first Sunday of Great Lent—the Sunday of Orthodoxy—we joyfully commemorate the restoration of holy icons to the life of the Church.” The message recalls that the feast celebrates “the unity established by the Seventh Ecumenical Council (787) and the final restoration of icons in 843 under the leadership of Empress St. Theodora, together with her son, Emperor Michael III, and Patriarch St. Methodios.”
Drawing a connection between that historic triumph and the present mission of Orthodoxy in America, the bishops affirm: “Today, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America carries this legacy forward, manifesting that same spirit of unity.” In this context, they note that “Assembly of Bishops Sunday” is now observed nationwide alongside the Sunday of Orthodoxy, reinforcing the commitment to Orthodox Christian unity.
The message invokes the words of Saint Paul to the Corinthians, reminding the faithful that the Apostle’s appeal remains urgent today. Saint Paul calls believers to be “united in the same mind and the same judgment,” leaving no room for division (1 Corinthians 1:10). According to the bishops, this apostolic mandate, together with the celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, reveals that “the restoration of icons was more than a historical event—it was the restoration of Church unity itself.”
They further describe the restoration of icons as “the victory of faith over fear and the reality of a God incarnate over a distant deity.” Honoring the holy icons, they explain, is inseparable from recognizing Christ in one another: “Just as we honor holy icons, we are called to see the icon of Christ in one another.” Following the example of the saints of the 8th and 9th centuries, the faithful are urged to move beyond divisions and “embrace the grace that unites us in the Body of Christ.”
As the Church marks both the Sunday of Orthodoxy and Assembly of Bishops Sunday, the hierarchs encourage the faithful to become more familiar with the ministries of the Assembly and to actively support its work. They call upon Orthodox Christians to strengthen the effort toward unity “through the steadfast and generous gifts of your time, talent, and treasure.”
Source: assemblyofbishops.org
