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September 1, 2025
Beloved faithful in Christ, clergy and laity,
As we enter the new Ecclesiastical Year on September 1, the Church invites us to begin with thanksgiving and prayer, remembering that this day also marks the commemoration of God’s act of Creation. From the first words of Genesis 1:1–3: “In the beginning… God said, let there be light,” we are reminded that all life, all time, and the entire cosmos are gifts from the Creator, entrusted to our care.
For more than three decades, the Orthodox Church has also observed this day as one of prayer for the protection of the natural world. Let us renew our commitment to treat all of creation not as something to be used and consumed, but as a sacred trust—to be honored, protected, and offered back to God with gratitude.
This year’s beginning of the Church calendar coincides with Labor Day, which is celebrated both in Canada and the United States. As we give thanks for the labor of human hands and minds, let us also pray that our efforts may always be joined to the work of God.
May the Lord God, the Giver of every blessing, grant us, His children, peace, health, and fruitfulness in His service.
With paternal love in Christ,
✠ 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗘𝗟
Archbishop of Detroit and the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America
