Beloved in the Lord,
"For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord." — From the Great Litany of the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom
The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco offers our fervent prayers to the faithful in the Metropolis of Atlanta and along the east coast who are suffering from the devastation of Hurricane Matthew. We beseech the Lord for the safekeeping of our faithful, for the restoration of homes and churches, and for God’s mighty hand to calm the wind and rain and bring favorable weather to the affected areas. We also pray for Saint Photios Shrine and their staff along with His Grace Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos who were affected by Hurricane Matthew. Gratitude is also due to the Orthodox Christian Mission Center who opened their doors as a shelter to Bishop Dimitrios and others in the area that were displaced during the height of the storm. May the God-pleasing work of all these ministries continue with zeal and may their facilities be spared from future harm. We also beseech the Lord that He may grant health and comfort in the days ahead to all those who are suffering, and may He shower His blessings of love and peace to all.
With Love in Christ,
+ G E R A S I M O S
Metropolitan of San Francisco