ENCYCLICAL FOR GREEK LETTERS
By Metropolitan Sotirios
Greece and Hellenism worldwide need a proper tidying and to be put in order. A tidy house has a pleasant atmosphere. In such a house you can live a life of happiness and success.
Recently, Greece Greece Greece Canada
Our house in Canada
All our communities have Greek Orthodox schools. But how well do they operate and how successful are they?
The aim of Greek Orthodox Education is key and essential for the perpetuation and progress of our people, but to also enter and inherit the Heavenly Kingdom of God. Greek Orthodox Education helps put our house in order and it enriches the child's soul.
Some parents expect their children to be Greek and Orthodox, without taking care to teach their children the Greek language, the Orthodox faith, and Hellenic Christian ideals. When they see their children abandon these family Greek traditions and, their Greek Orthodox faith somewhere down the road, these same parents will get indignant, angry, and start to yell and insult those they blame. They will pin the blame on everyone else, except themselves. All others are to blame: society, Priests, teachers, community leaders – everyone, except than themselves.
Some parents expect their children to be Greek and Orthodox, without taking care to teach their children the Greek language, the Orthodox faith, and Hellenic Christian ideals. When they see their children abandon these family Greek traditions and, their Greek Orthodox faith somewhere down the road, these same parents will get indignant, angry, and start to yell and insult those they blame. They will pin the blame on everyone else, except themselves. All others are to blame: society, Priests, teachers, community leaders – everyone, except than themselves.
How will our children remain Greek Orthodox, if they are not taught Greek learning and Christian Orthodoxy? And who is primarily responsible for this?
The Apostle Paul in Ephesus
We ask our children if they are Greek Orthodox, and they respond either with words or even with silence: “What is this? Who taught us? Whose responsibility is this?”
We ask our children if they are Greek Orthodox, and they respond either with words or even with silence: “What is this? Who taught us? Whose responsibility is this?”
The responsibility lies first and foremost with the parents of these children. Then, the Clergy and the Church, as well as the Metropolitan and the Community leaders. The Metropolitan, Clergy, the Church, and our communities all have the responsibility to have well-organized schools. Parents have the responsibility to take their children to schools, but they themselves must also speak the Greek language in the home, and to actively live the Orthodox faith.
I stated at the beginning that Greek Orthodox Education is essential for the perpetuation of our people, our culture and for the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven
It seems to me that we are all guilty when it comes to the matter of Greek Orthodox Education. We do not do as much as we should. We must repent. That is to say, we much change our manner of living and operating. We must do more for the advancement and success of Greek Orthodox education. This is truly a matter of life and death for the perpetuation of our people and for the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven
We will have no excuse in History and before Christ Himself, if we do not do more for the advancement of Greek Orthodox Education than we are already doing. Proper and correct Greek Orthodox Education is the best way of tidying up and keeping our house in order.
We will have no excuse in History and before Christ Himself, if we do not do more for the advancement of Greek Orthodox Education than we are already doing. Proper and correct Greek Orthodox Education is the best way of tidying up and keeping our house in order.
With fatherly love and best wishes,
Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto
Van Vlahakis left Greece five decades ago with 22 dollars in his pocket. Eftehios - as is his Greek name - not only managed to live the American dream for himself, but also created Earth Friendly Products, a US giant for environmentally friendly cleaning products, transforming his life the lives of the ones around him. Nika Agiasvhili writes, directs and co-produces A GREEN STORY, a feature production based on Vlahakis' story. The cast includes Ed O'Ross (check this one), Shannon Elizabeth, Annabella Sciorra, Malcolm McDowell, Billy Zane, George Finn, Louis Mandylor, Alexis Georgoulis, Alessandra Toressani, Debbie Matenopoulos, Thaao Phenghlis, Roger Bart, Anthony Skordi, Mihalis Giannatosand Julianna Guill. To visit the Facebook fan page, 
This graphic novel, WARLORDS: BROTHERHOOD by Paris Kasidokostas Latsisand Max Works is available for download on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iBooks and on your computer with iTunes. (Books must be read on an iOS device.)
Innovative filmmaker, author, and Director of Health Film Festival and Ecofilms, Loukia Rikaki died on December 28 after battling with cancer at age 50. Rikaki's film HOLD ME screened at LAGFF in 2009. Her loss saddens us deeply.
