By Catholic San Francisco
On January 22,the 20th anniversary of shared prayer, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone and Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Gerasimos joined in Solemn Vespers during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at St. Pius Catholic Church in Redwood City. Archbishop Cordileone led the Vespers and Metropolitan Gerasimos delivered the homily.
The guiding text this year chosen for the international celebration came from Ephesians 4:4: “There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.”
Archbishop Cordileone welcomed those who had come from both the Catholic and Greek Orthodox communities, and especially thanked His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos and His Grace Bishop Yuanas, Father Peter and Father Emmanuel from the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox parish in Belmont.
“It is my pleasure to welcome you this evening for our annual Vespers,” said Archbishop Cordileone. “We are so grateful for your presence and these opportunities we have together to pray…We know the respective heads of our churches are committed to building unity…. It’s a joy that we can share our faith in Christ and pray to Him for His Church.”
In his homily, Metropolitan Gerasimos spoke on the importance of fostering peace in our pursuit of unity.
“As we are still early in the new year, may each of us labor every day for peace among all,” he said. “Christians – Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant – must be united in our search for peace in the world.”
Each January, the Archdiocese of San Francisco hosts the Greek Orthodox during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity for Solemn Vespers, and the Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco, led by Metropolitan Gerasimos, hosts Archbishop Cordileone and the Archdiocese of San Francisco in March for Salutations to the Holy Cross at Holy Cross Church in Belmont.
Watch His Eminence’s full homily here.
Photos: John Bartolome
