The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (ACOB-US), of which the Romanian Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas is a member, has issued a message on the occasion of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, to be celebrated in Orthodox churches at the end of the first week of Lent.
“Today, we celebrate triumphally and with humility the resulting Unity of the Orthodox Church manifested through this decision of the 7th Ecumenical Council that met in Nicaea in 787, under the aegis of Byzantine Empress Irene and, subsequently, the definitive Restoration of Holy Icons in Constantinople on the First Sunday of Great and Holy Lent in 843, henceforth known as Orthodoxy Sunday, under the patronage of the Byzantine Regent, Saint Theodora, and, the Ecumenical Patriarch, Saint Methodios the Confessor,” transmitted the canonical Orthodox bishops from the US.
The restoration of icons as restoration of Orthodox unity
“Indeed, the restoration of the holy icons is the restoration of unity through the victory of faith over fear, of salvation over condemnation, of a God incarnate over an unknown deity,” added the members of ACOB–US.
“Unity prevails when we all open up our hearts and minds in selfless love, transformed by grace in the mystery of Christ.”
“Just as we venerate icons, we too become icons to one another, united in one body, that is the Church, just as the Saints of the 8th and 9th Centuries chose to stand firm, witnessing God’s glory,” continues the message.
Assembly of Bishops Sunday
The canonical Orthodox bishops from the United States are protected by the Sunday of Orthodoxy, which they have designated as Assembly of Bishops Sunday.
“Now, here in the United States of America, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops is tasked with preserving, manifesting, and promoting this same mystery of Unity exemplified and confessed with courage by the Saints so long ago,” stated the Primates of the Orthodox Churches from the United States of America.
“Thus, inspired by the same sense of joy, witness and responsibility Assembly of Bishops Sunday is now recognized throughout the country in conjunction with the Sunday of Orthodoxy.”
The hierarchs’ message ends with an appeal to all Orthodox faithful to support the activity of ACOB–US.
Photo credit: Facebook / The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America
