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| (ctpost.com) - Father Peter Paproski, of St. John's Orthodox Church, offers up a prayer to several people as hundreds attend a candlelight vigil in memory of victims from yesterday's mass shooting in Newtown, which was held behind Stratford High School on the Town Hall Green in Stratford, Conn. on Saturday December 15, 2012. |
(pravmir.com) - We offer statements from Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America; Metropolitan Tikhon, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America; and Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
Archbishop Demetrios (GOARCH) Calls for Prayers for the Victims of the Massacre in Newtown, Conn.
NEW YORK – Upon hearing the horrible news of the monstrous mass shooting in the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, which caused the tragic death of 26 people, most of which are reportedly children, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America immediately contacted Fr. Peter Karloutsos, the priest of the nearby Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption in Danbury, Connecticut. He expressed to him his deep pain and great concern about this terrible incident and its devastating effects on the local community, and offered any support on behalf of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
The Archbishop said that this is a crime whose magnitude and nature is impossible to believe, an abominable act of the kind that our society should work hard to prevent. He called upon the orthodox faithful across the country to pray fervently for support and healing from God to the many families and individuals affected by this violent act and for the repose of the souls of the innocent victims of this enormous tragedy.
A scheduled visit of the Archbishop to the Greek Orthodox Church of the Archangels in Stamford, Conn. this coming Sunday Dec. 16, has been postponed; instead the Archbishop will visit the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption in Danbury, in order to offer pastoral support and guidance to the people of the area and pray with them in a Divine Liturgy which will begin at 10:00 a.m.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
All of us have been shaken by the news of the tragic death of twenty young children and six adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. All of a sudden, the image of Rachel, who was ‘weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more’ [Jeremiah 31:15], becomes more than simply a passage from scripture. Rather, it becomes an unfortunate reality in the lives of those affected by the senseless incident and in our own hearts, as we share in their lamentation and sorrow.
None of us can truly understand the personal distress that so many are facing today. Yet every one of us knows the reality of such tragedy and experience it in the depths of our hearts. Our very being is shaken and we feel powerless to do anything. Nevertheless, we make an effort to direct our prayers towards the families of those who have lost their most dear ones, most of whom are innocent and pure children.
Concerning those who have fallen asleep, Saint Paul exhorts us not to “grieve even as others who have no hope” [1 Thessalonians 4:13]. And yet, herein he does not forbid us from grieving. Now is the time for us to weep, but we must weep with the firm hope that comes from our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. “Shed tears, but remain calm; weep modestly, and with fear of God,” writes Saint John Chrysostom. And following this example, each of us must strive to transform our sorrow into prayer.
I therefore call on the clergy and the faithful of the Orthodox Church in America to offer fervent prayers for the souls of those whose lives have been so brutally cut short and for the consolation of all those whose existence has been shattered by this unfathomable event. I also ask that those who are physically able to offer their services to the grieving and the broken-hearted, both in the Newtown community and throughout this land.
It is at times like this that we must put our faith into action and offer our Christian support and love, to make our prayers concrete through action. Many have been affected, and many more will be overcome by grief, despair and isolation. We must ensure that we do all we can to provide a sense of true community to all those in need and to bear their burdens as the Lord asks us to.
Together with my brother bishops on the Holy Synod, I offer my condolences to all the grieving families, and I pray that they will find hope in the abundant grace of God. May they be given strength at this most painful moment and find comfort along the difficult path that lies ahead. Let no one among us have any fear, but let us remember that our Lord Jesus Christ has overcome fear, has trampled down death, and has granted us eternal life and great mercy.”
Metropolitan Tikhon (OCA) calls for prayers in wake of Connecticut school shooting
SYOSSET, NY
As widely reported in the media on Friday, December 14, 2012, twenty-six individuals—twenty of whom were elementary school children—perished at Sandy Hook School, Newtown, CT, when a lone 20-year-old gunman entered the school and opened fire on students and faculty alike. Upon learning of the tragedy, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, released the following letter to the faithful. “My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
“All of us have been shaken by the news of the tragic death of twenty young children and six adults at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. All of a sudden, the image of Rachel, who was ‘weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more’ [Jeremiah 31:15], becomes more than simply a passage from scripture. Rather, it becomes an unfortunate reality in the lives of those affected by the senseless incident and in our own hearts, as we share in their lamentation and sorrow.
“None of us can truly understand the personal distress that so many are facing today. Yet every one of us knows the reality of such tragedy and experience it in the depths of our hearts. Our very being is shaken and we feel powerless to do anything. Nevertheless, we make an effort to direct our prayers towards the families of those who have lost their most dear ones, most of whom are innocent and pure children.
“Concerning those who have fallen asleep, Saint Paul exhorts us not to “grieve even as others who have no hope” [1 Thessalonians 4:13]. And yet, herein he does not forbid us from grieving. Now is the time for us to weep, but we must weep with the firm hope that comes from our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. “Shed tears, but remain calm; weep modestly, and with fear of God,” writes Saint John Chrysostom. And following this example, each of us must strive to transform our sorrow into prayer.
“I therefore call on the clergy and the faithful of the Orthodox Church in America to offer fervent prayers for the souls of those whose lives have been so brutally cut short and for the consolation of all those whose existence has been shattered by this unfathomable event. I also ask that those who are physically able to offer their services to the grieving and the broken-hearted, both in the Newtown community and throughout this land.
“It is at times like this that we must put our faith into action and offer our Christian support and love, to make our prayers concrete through action. Many have been affected, and many more will be overcome by grief, despair and isolation. We must ensure that we do all we can to provide a sense of true community to all those in need and to bear their burdens as the Lord asks us to.
“Together with my brother bishops on the Holy Synod, I offer my condolences to all the grieving families, and I pray that they will find hope in the abundant grace of God. May they be given strength at this most painful moment and find comfort along the difficult path that lies ahead. Let no one among us have any fear, but let us remember that our Lord Jesus Christ has overcome fear, has trampled down death, and has granted us eternal life and great mercy.”
NEW YORK: December 15, 2012 Statement from the Office of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, in connection with the Attack on the Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut
Dear brethren, sisters and children!
With horror I followed the tragedy that unfolded yesterday in a school in the state of Connecticut, during which a murderer spared neither children nor even his own mother; and I hasten to express unto all my deepest sympathy amid your common sorrow. I am praying for the repose of the children and those who suffered with them, and for their bereaved parents, relatives, classmates, teachers and friends. May the Lord give His people strength and bless their hearts with His heavenly peace. May Jesus Christ our God bless the self-sacrificing teachers who saved the terrified children and showed them an example of Christian love. With all my soul I desire that the consolation of Christ and help from heaven be granted you!
With this statement, I call upon the rectors of our parishes and the superiors of our monasteries to insert the following petition in the Reiterate Litany of the Divine Liturgy:
“To Thee, O Lord, Who art in heaven, we raise up the eyes of our soul, and lift our hands, and sigh from the depths of our heart, and praying with our speech we cry out: give rest to the blest infants and to those who suffered with them in the present trouble and sorrow: hearken to those who weep and are pained, and await Thy consolation, asking Thy goodness; we ask Thy mercy and seek to obtain grace before Thee, and we knock upon Thy doors: open to us the doors of Thine abundant kindness, and abandon us not to the end, for Thy name’s sake. Let us say: Lord, hearken soon and have mercy upon all.”
Yesterday’s tragedy again reminds us that we must cherish the sacred gift of life and one another, following the commandments of God, and thus bring forth the light of Christ in this fallen world, rendering it less dark.
With love in the Lord and a request for your prayers,
+Hilarion, Metropolitan of New York & Eastern America, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.
(EP) - His All-Holiness expressed a paternal message of condolence and compassion for the victims of the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut.
PERSONAL MESSAGE OF COMPASSION
On the Tragic Events at Sandy Hook Elementary School
Newtown, Connecticut
From His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
(Sunday, December 16, 2012)
Today, during the Divine Liturgy our heart and attention were directed in thought and prayer for those who lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Connecticut, USA, especially the tender children and their caring teachers. We stand in silent prayer and tears beside their siblings, parents, and extended family, as well as the community and entire American nation, as we mourn the loss of innocence and extinguishing of dreams.
At this moment, we are the silence and tears of God. No words can adequately express the grief of those related to the victims or, indeed, the disbelief of us all. Silence and tears are the only fitting response to the traumatic unfolding of events, which began last Friday morning, and whose reverberation will continue for days and years to come. Silence and tears are the only tangible way that the presence of God, who always receives “the sacrifice of a broken and crushed heart,” can fill our painful void with solace and transform our unimaginable grief into comfort. Silence and tears are the only selfless way that we can stand in solidarity with one another before this tragedy.
When the pain subsides and the tears dry, then we may reflect on the reality of horror and darkness in our world. Then we must interpret for our children; but, more importantly, we must inform society and influence politicians about how to reshape our world so that this never happens again. We must ponder our response to the suffering and violence in our life. We must understand the responsibility we share for terror and evil, which is easily blamed on others – whether other peoples or other individuals – but should also be discerned among us and even within us. And we must assume initiatives for radical decisions and drastic changes in our society and the global community. Then, the lives of these victims will not have been lost in vain. Then, their candles will shine brightly forever.
There are more angels in heaven today. And those closest to the sweet children and their loving teachers are surrounded by more than just our love. They can take pride in “such a great cloud of witnesses,” who are now in the arms of God.
May their memory be eternal!
At the Ecumenical Patriarchate, with paternal compassion and fervent prayer
† BARTHOLOMEW
Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome
and Ecumenical Patriarch
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