Appeal of His Eminence Nicolae, the Romanian Orthodox Archbishop of the Americas, for Help and Prayers for Haiti:

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On Tuesday, January 12, 2010 an earthquake that could leave up to half a million people dead devastated the country of Haiti and a countless number of people were injured. The infrastructure and institutions of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, are in ruins.

In response to this tragedy, I would ask all of you, clergy and faithful, to offer prayers for the people of Haiti. Fr. John Peck, and Orthodox Priest from Arizona, has written some petitions that could be inserted in the Litany of Fervent Supplication:

Again we pray for the survivors of the earthquake in Haiti, for the homeless, the injured, the sick, the grieving; that they may put their trust in Your mighty providence, even as relief aid speeds to their help; we ask you to protect them, comfort them, heal them, and ignite in us the love that You Yourself have for them, that we may do what we can in prayer and personal action to assuage their sorrows, soothe their wounds, feed them, help them put their lives and their nation back together in peace and unity, and protect them from harm, danger and further calamity.

Again we pray for those speedily bringing help, relief, medicine, food and water to those who desperately have need in Haiti, that you will inspire their hearts in Your love, direct them with wisdom, and guide them to the helpless and homeless; for our armed forces who will bring aid, protection, order, stability and comfort to the suffering in Haiti.

The International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) has begun a response on behalf of the Orthodox in the United States. You can find their Urgent Appeal on the Archdiocese’s web site. I would urge you to organize a special collection in each parish of our Archdiocese this Sunday, January 17th for the Haiti Relief of IOCC. It is our duty as Christians to fulfill the Lord’s commandment to look after those who are hungry, or thirsty, or naked, or sick, or strangers (Matthew 25, 35).

Please send the collection to the Center in Chicago (the US parishes), or to Sam Erina in Windsor (the Canadian parishes).

May God help our brothers and sisters in Haiti!

† Archbishop NICOLAE