2025 Nativity Letter from Bishop Gerasim

Greetings on the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Christ is born!

This year we have witnessed many beautiful events in the life of the Diocese of the South.

In light of the failing health of Hiero-schemamonk Silouan, abbot of the Monastery of the Holy Archangel Michael in Cañones, New Mexico, His Eminence, ALEXANDER, Archbishop of Dallas and the South, in consultation with the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America, ordained several of the monastic fathers. In August, Monk Lazarus was ordained to the Holy Priesthood and Monk Melchizedek was ordained to the Holy Diaconate. Later in early December, Archbishop Alexander returned to the Monastery and ordained Hiero-deacon Melchizedek to the Holy Priesthood and Monk Herman to the Holy Diaconate.

What is the significance of these events?

First of all, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated reverently and beautifully in a remote corner of our Diocese where the emphasis is on prayer and humble labors, rather than self-promotion on the internet.

Second, the monastics who have long labored in chastity, poverty, and obedience are now regularly fortified by partaking of the Holy Mysteries. This is a sign that the…