Metropolitan Herman attends ceremony marking National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for hurricane victims
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| His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman [front, left] listens to the words of US President George W. Bush at the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of Hurricane Katrina at the National Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Washington, D.C. on September 16, 2005. |
WASHINGTON, DC [OCA Communications] — His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, was one of many national religious leaders who attended a ceremony at the National Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul here Friday, September 16, 2005, marking the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of Hurricane Katrina.
One week ago, US President George W. Bush proclaimed that the day should be devoted to the memory of the growing number of individuals who lost their lives in what has become the worst natural disaster in US history.
In his remarks that closed the ceremony, President Bush called upon the nation to remember the departed and the suffering, calling upon the Lord to comfort the afflicted and embrace those who had lost their lives.
Metropolitan Herman was called upon to address the importance of leadership, joining several other religious leaders, including Roman Catholic Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes of New Orleans and other representatives of faith communities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas, in reflecting on the tragedy.
The cathedral was filled to capacity with numerous representatives of the federal, state, and local governments and the general public.
In proclaiming the day of prayer and remembrance, President Bush encouraged “all Americans to remember those who have suffered in the disaster by offering prayers and giving their hearts and homes for those who now, more than ever, need our compassion and our support.”
International Orthodox Christian Charities [IOCC], the pan-Orthodox humanitarian agency under the auspices of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, has been providing on-site assistance and ministry to flood victims across the south. Immediately after the hurricane, IOCC dispatched teams to the region to assess needs.
Donations to assist hurricane relief efforts may be made directly to IOCC by logging on to the agency’s web site at www.iocc.org.
Click here for photos of the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance ceremony.
Watch archived webcast of the ceremony…