November 26, 2009
Holy Cross Monastery: Thanksgiving Greeting of His Grace Bishop George of Mayfield  

We, thine unworthy servants, O Lord, grateful for thy great benefits which Thou hast showed upon us, glorifying Thee do praise, bless, give thanks, sing, and magnify Thy loving-kindness, and with love do cry aloud unto Thee in humble submissiveness: O our Benefactor and Savior, glory to Thee.

Thanksgiving Troparion

Dear in the Lord Reverend Fathers, brothers and sisters!

On behalf of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, and the Diocesan Council, I greet all of you with the joyous day of Thanksgiving. Today, all across our diocese, families are gathering to give thanks to Almighty God for the great mercies that He has bestowed upon all of us. This year has been an especially blessed one for our diocese, and there is much that we have to be grateful for.

This year, we celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the hierarchal ordination of our ruling bishop and First Hierarch, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion. The Lord has given the Church Abroad a loving father and archpastor, dedicated to preserving peace and unity within our Church. Under his leadership, our diocese continues to grow and flourish.

Through the mercy of God, we were witness to the historic visit of our most sacred icon, the Kursk Mother of God, which traveled to Russia and brought spiritual joy to hundreds of thousands of our brothers and sisters in Christ. With God’s help, this holy icon will be visiting parishes within our diocese to strengthen and unite us spiritually.

Our diocese has been blessed with an abundance of pastors who selflessly toil in the Vineyard of Christ and tend to their spiritual flocks. The Church could not survive without pastors, and I beseech all our faithful to give thanks to the Lord for the many priests and deacons who help thousands achieve eternal salvation.

As we sit down with our families and loved ones, let us all “praise, bless, give thanks, sing, and magnify” our All-Merciful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the abundance of mercies that He has bestowed upon all of us sinners. I invoke the Lord’s blessing upon all of you.

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1Thess. 5:18).

+George
Bishop of Mayfield

 Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese