To the clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Orthodox Church in America, beloved children in the Lord, 

Christ is in our midst! 

To all my flock in the United States of America: Happy Thanksgiving! And to all my flock throughout the North American continent: Glory to Jesus Christ! 

Despite secularization, polarization, ubiquitous commercialization and corporatization on every side, rapid social change on every front, today Americans from all walks of life set aside a day for thanksgiving, a day celebrating tradition and community. The prominence of this holiday in American life speaks not just to the best impulses of our national culture, but to the basic yearnings of every human heart. We long for meaning, for belonging, for a life that is simple and good.  

In the Church, we find the ultimate fulfillment of these yearnings; we find our destiny as vessels of the overflowing life and love of the Godhead; we find our eternal place in the everlasting family of God, adopted unto the Father through the Cross of the Son. 

As we give thanks to God this day for his earthly bounty, for the joys of family and friends and communal life, let us also thank him for his merciful invitation to enter into the joy of unending thanksgiving in heaven, where the eternal holiday of salvation is celebrated, where the banquet of the Lamb delights all the children of God unto ages of ages.  

Finally, in giving thanks, let us remember also the hungry hearts of those around us who do not yet know Christ, who have yet clearly to hear his call; and remembering this, let us put into practice the words of the Savior: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matt. 9:37–38). 

Glory to God for all things! 

With my primatial prayers and blessing, 

+Tikhon
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada