wfn.org | GOAA Archbishop Demetrios Appeal for Victims of California

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GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
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Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0215
Web: http://www.goarch.org
Email: communications@goarch.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 30, 2003

ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS APPEALS FOR HELP FOR VICTIMS OF CALIFORNIA MUDSLIDES

New York - Responding to the tragedy that occurred on Christmas Day at St.
Sophia Greek Orthodox Camp in San Bernardino, CA, His Eminence Archbishop
Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, has issued an
urgent appeal to be read in all parishes of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese
of America. In this appeal he requests that a special offering be made on
Sunday, January 4, 2004, to benefit the families of the victims who
perished during the mudslides that ravaged the area of San Bernardino.
(Full text of appeal appears below.)

Archbishop Demetrios has been in constant contact with Metropolitan Anthony
of San Francisco and Rev. John Bakas, Dean of the Cathedral of Saint Sophia
in Los Angeles, from the moment the catastrophe began. Metropolitan Anthony
visited the site and Fr. Bakas was present throughout the rescue process.
St. Sophia Camp has belonged to the Cathedral since 1961.

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, expressing his deepest sorrow for the
tragic loss of this large number of people said, "We were deeply saddened
by the tragedy in San Bernardino. The unexpected and harsh death of so many
people, on Christmas Day, is a shocking reality that is not easily
confronted.  The Orthodox Church, though, which has faced innumerable
tragedies and sorrows throughout the centuries, has always immediately run
to the disaster sites and human pain and has offered unreserved assistance.

Acting according to this sacred tradition, we are called today by the
"Father of mercies and the God of all consolation" (2 Cor. 1:3) to offer
out of the generosity of our hearts our prayers, love and philanthropic
help to the families of the victims of San Bernardino. These offerings
constitute the foundation upon which hope is reborn within hurting souls".

On Friday, December 26, while the search and rescue was still ongoing,
Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco emphasized the need for prayer and
said "?at times of calamity and human pain, like these, we, as Orthodox
Christians must express love and compassion to the victims and their
families".

The Greek Orthodox camp is located in Waterman Canyon of San Bernardino,
which had recently been ravaged by fires that destroyed all vegetation and
woods in the area contributing to the latest tragedy, which caused the
death of at least fourteen people at the Campsite.

The camp was officially closed for the season when the disaster hit. The
caretaker of the camp, a Guatemalan native and an employee of the Camp
since 1997, had invited his immediate family along with other members of
his family and friends, all who originated from Central America, to
celebrate Christmas at the camp.

Fr. John Bakas and six representatives of the Saint Sophia parish of Los
Angeles were given permission to enter the site where they offered a
memorial service for the victims.

TEXT OF APPEAL BELOW

  Protocol 118/03
  New York, December 30, 2003

  To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the
  Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the
  Greek Orthodox Communities, the Day and Afternoon Schools, the
  Philoptochos Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the
  entire Greek Orthodox Family in America

  Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

  In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the spirit of St. Paul's
  moving exhortation, weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15) and put on
  heartfelt compassion (Colossians 3:12), I write this letter in the wake of
  the mudslides that have claimed the lives of 14 people in San Bernardino,
  California.  The victims of this terrible catastrophe were the caretaker
  of our St. Sophia Camp in San Bernardino, his entire family, and a number
  of his relatives and friends who were with him on Christmas Day within the
  area of the camp.  As we have learned, the mudslides appeared suddenly,
  without warning, in an area that had been severely damaged by recent
  devastating fires.

  The intense pain caused by this unexpected tragedy continues for the
  family members and friends of the deceased victims, whose place of origin
  is Central America and who live in San Bernardino, in a community which
  today grieves over a considerable loss, and is in need of assistance,
  comfort, and healing.  Our Metropolis of San Francisco, specifically
  through the work of the parish of St. Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles, to
  which the destroyed camp belongs, has already commenced the appropriate
  efforts.

  However, as Greek Orthodox Christians, it is important that all of us
  extend our support to the mudslide victims of San Bernardino through
  prayer and through financial assistance.  To this end, I am kindly asking
  all our parishes across America to pass a special tray this Sunday,
  January 4, 2004.  I appeal to your hearts to give generously to this
  special collection.  Your contributions to this tray should be forwarded
  to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, and designated exclusively to benefit
  the "Mudslide Victims of San Bernardino, California."  I also invite you
  to join me in praying that this New Year 2004 may be a year of peace,
  comfort, and healing for the entire San Bernardino community, and
  especially for the people directly affected by the tragedy.  May the love
  and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always, and even more
  throughout the New Year.

  With paternal love in Christ,

  +DEMETRIOS
  Archbishop of America