The Church of Greece has issued its annual encyclical for the “Week of Priestly Vocations,” which will be read in churches across the country on the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross during Great Lent.
In the encyclical, the Holy Synod highlights the spiritual significance of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, which is presented to the faithful in the middle of the Lenten period as a sign of victory, hope, and life. The Cross, the message notes, reminds believers that the path of sacrifice ultimately leads to the light of the Resurrection and reveals the true measure of love, offering, and responsibility.
Within this spiritual context, the priestly vocation is presented as a free and conscious response to Christ’s call. The Synod emphasizes that the priesthood is not a matter of human ambition or personal recognition, but a gift and a form of sacrificial ministry to both God and humanity.
The encyclical also addresses young people who seek meaning in life and wish to serve society. It underlines that a priest does not withdraw from society but lives within it, supporting families, comforting those who suffer, and accompanying people in both their joys and their trials.
At the same time, the Church calls upon families, and particularly the spouses of those considering the priesthood, to support such decisions with love and understanding.
Concluding the message, the Holy Synod recalls the words of the Lord: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few,” stressing the need for new workers in the Church, people of faith, integrity, and love who will serve humanity and nurture hope in the modern world.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas