Reverend Fathers, Beloved Faithful of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas,

You are all aware of the news of the violent hostilities in Israel. There are already thousands of casualties and material destruction. Today, October 20, 2023, the Orthodox monastery of St. Porphyry in Gaza, which became a place of refuge for many civilians, was attacked. At the same time, the war in Ukraine, which started a year and a half ago, continues. We are saddened and concerned by these events.

I urge you all to kneel in prayer, priests and faithful, and pray to the Lord to change the hearts of those who started the war and to restore peace and understanding between brothers and between peoples.

I urge you to pray earnestly during all the divine services in the coming days using the special litanies in the Liturgy book:

O Lord our God, as One who is good, look down from on high upon the hearts of Your servants that are bereft of love and unity and overpowered by the thorns of hatred and other sins.  

May the Grace of Your All-Holy Spirit, descending upon them, bedew them richly that they may bring forth rich fruit and, out of love for You, may increase in good deeds and live in love and unity; earnestly we entreat You, as a giver of good and our God, quickly hear us and, with Your love for mankind, have mercy on them! 

May the Lord hear our prayers and have mercy on us!

† Metropolitan Nicolae