“The Lord reminds us that, for us to gain our crown in heaven, we must serve all through love and charitable works,” transmitted His Eminence Nicolae, Orthodox Romanian Metropolitan of the Americas, in a message published on the website of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (ACOB – USA).
The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States designated the Sunday before Thanksgiving as Humanitarian Relief Sunday, a day of Christian service.
“There are many ways each of us can serve others in our community, whether by volunteering at local charitable organizations, offering our talents pro-bono to those in need, or by donating our treasures to help in moments of crisis, when our time and talent are unable to serve,” emphasized His Eminence Nicolae.
„While we may not be able to travel the globe ourselves or get involved in more complicated situations – such as Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Lebanon, Uganda, Gaza, Ethiopia, Greece, Romania, and more – IOCC is there, in the field, responding with love and compassion on our behalf.”
“Let us follow the example of Christ, the Servant-King, by caring for one another. This Thanksgiving, let us take a moment and reflect on the countless blessings God has bestowed upon us, and how we can share those blessings with each another. By doing so, we multiply them and bring honour to His All-Holy name,” said the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas.
The International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) will champion Humanitarian Relief Sunday as the ACOB–USA Agency which brings aid to those in need around the globe.
“And while crisis and disaster response reflect one side of IOCC’s efforts, they are also committed to long-term recovery and rebuilding projects, community development, and finding ways to help people sustain themselves economically,” Metropolitan Nicolae transmitted.
In the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of October. This year, it will be on November 28.
Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas is the Episcopal Liaison of the ACOB – USA to IOCC.
Photo credit: Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu (archive)
