NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America yesterday (June 25) evening in his office, his first official visit following his enthronement, the U.S. Ambassador-at-large for Religious Freedom Samuel Brownback.

Ambassador Brownback apprised His Eminence of the actions and positions the U.S. Government is taking in defense of religious freedom and invited the Archbishop to the second State Department Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom to be held in Washington in mid-July and is expected to draw more than 1,000 people.

Following his meeting with Archbishop Elpidophoros, Ambassador Brownback stated:
“I was delighted to meet His Eminence. I congratulated him on his new position. I’m excited about the prospects for working together with the Orthodox Community. It is a fabulous community in the United States and around the world. On religious freedom issues many times the Orthodox Community is on the front line of some of the heaviest persecution in the world and I think there’s much we can do together to see religious freedom prosper and that the people in these difficult places can have the backing of the global community for their freedom., and away from their persecution. So, I wish God speed to His Eminence and that he will have a very successful, in the eyes of God, tenure in this key role.”

Archbishop Elpidophoros said in return: “I was honored to have as a first official guest in my office after my installation as the new Archbishop of America Mr. Brownback, and I think this will be registered in the history. I’m grateful for that. And I’m moreover grateful that this visit had to do with human rights and religious freedom which is so important for the center of the Orthodox Christian world, our Ecumenical Patriarchate. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is the spiritual father not only of the Greek community in Istanbul, but of all the faithful of our Archdiocese here in America. For the Orthodox people in the United States the well-being of our Orthodox center is extremely important and we are happy that our government in Washington supports our spiritual father Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and our spiritual center.”

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NEW YORK– The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is excited to announce a generous grant for Orthodox Christian Fellowship’s annual Summer Leadership Institute, a four-day training workshop for young adults ages 18-25.

In response to a substantial shortfall in funds which put this year’s program at risk, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America authorized a grant of $18,550 to allow the program to proceed as planned. This is the first ministerial initiative of the Archbishop, who was enthroned just days ago.

“I am a firm believer in the transformative power of this Christ-centered ministry. OCF continues to raise up faithful young adults for the benefit for all Orthodox Christians in America. Our vision for ministry cannot and must not be impeded by financial difficulties; we must dedicate every available resource for the edification of the Church and the proclamation of the Gospel across this great Nation,” said Archbishop Elpidophoros.

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America travelled yesterday, June 28, to Jacksonville, Fla. where the Clergy-Laity Assembly of the Holy Metropolis of Atlanta is taking place June 25-29. The theme of the Assembly is “Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15).

Upon his arrival, the Archbishop was first welcomed at the airport by Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta and the lay leadership of the Metropolis. Clergy, the Presvyteres, the members of Philoptochos, the Archons, the faithful participating in the conference and the children of the Jacksonville community gathered at the Hyatt Riverfront Hotel, and offered a warm and enthusiastic welcome to Archbishop Elpidophoros as he entered.
Archbishop Elpidophoros received a second enthusiastic welcome a little later, when he was officially announced and entered the Grand Banquet with a standing ovation, cheers and applause.

In his address to the participants he expressed his joy for their “dedication to ministry,” evident in the work the delegates of the Clergy Laity Assembly do and their “commitment to mutuality, to compassion, to family, to all the practices that engender spiritual health from the cradle to the grave.”

“I commend you for this comprehensive nature of your service to Christ and to one another, for indeed they are one and the same. For if we have done it unto the least of His brethren, we have done it unto Him (cf. Matthew 25:40),” said the Archbishop.

His Eminence further admonished the faithful participants of the Assembly to share the gifts they have received from God: “Whatever goodness of God that has manifested in our lives, whatever grace, whatever, as the Apostle Paul says: ‘is true, honorable, righteous, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, or worthy of praise’ (cf. Philippians 4:8) – these are the very gifts that we can only keep, as we give them freely away. Because they are the product of grace, the free gift of God to each and every one of us.” (Read full text)

Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta in welcoming Archbishop Elpidophoros said “It was the will of God to have you elected as our Archbishop here in America,” and at a later point stated: “As the Metropolitan of this Metropolis I pledge my commitment to continue to serve you and the Archdiocese in order to enhance our service to God and the people entrusted to our care.”

At the beginning of the evening, an inspirational greeting was offered by Shannon Miller, a seven-time Olympic Medalist. Greetings were also delivered by U.S. Congressman John Rutherford who exalted the high ideals that the Greek American community holds dear.

Remarks of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros
at the Grand Banquet of Atlanta Metropolis Clergy Laity Assembly
June 28, 2019
Hyatt Riverfront Hotel, Jacksonville, Florida
Your Eminence, beloved brother, Metropolitan Alexios,
Honorable Congressman John Rutherford,
Your Grace, Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos,
Your Grace, Bishop Sebastian of Zela,
Brother Clergy, Presvyteres, Parish Council and Philoptochos Members,
Beloved Sisters and Brothers, my Co-Workers in Christ,
I am truly delighted to be with all of you, less than a week after my enthronement as Archbishop of America. I was especially honored that His Eminence Alexios was the one who came to Constantinople to accompany me to America. Your Eminence, your brotherly love and dedication to the Mother Church is manifest in all that you do, and I look forward to working with you on the Holy Eparchial Synod to strengthen and advance our Holy Orthodox Christian Faith throughout our great Nation. I also want to mention another friend, a son of Jacksonville, Archon Nicholas Furris, who is known to you all. He is the one who was with me from the moment I stepped off the plane, and he designed and supervised the live video broadcast of my Enthronement. Thank you, beloved Archon.
Today, as I behold your enthusiasm, your excitement for the future of the Church, your dedication to ministry, I feel overcome with joy. The spirit of the Saint Photios National Shrine, whose 251st anniversary of Greek Landing Day is being observed even now, is very much alive in this room. Believe me, I have seen your program for this Clergy-Laity Assembly, and what I see is a commitment to mutuality, to compassion, to family, to all the practices that engender spiritual health from the cradle to the grave. I commend you for this comprehensive nature of your service to Christ and to one another, for indeed they are one and the same. For if we have done it unto the least of His brethren, we have done it unto Him (cf. Matthew 25:40).
And is not this truly encapsulated in your theme for this Clergy-Laity Assembly?
“Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15)
Whatever goodness of God that has manifested in our lives, whatever grace, whatever, as the Apostle Paul says: ‘is true, honorable, righteous, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, or worthy of praise’ (cf. Philippians 4:8) – these are the very gifts that we can only keep, as we give them freely away. Because they are the product of grace, the free gift of God to each and every one of us.
Our faith in Jesus Christ is not only for Sunday morning when we confess the Creed with our brothers and sisters. Our faith in Jesus Christ is lived every moment of our lives – even when we sleep! In every interaction, we have the opportunity to respond in grace, to “proclaim the Good News to the whole creation” as the Evangelist Mark records the words of our Lord.
Or as the late Metropolitan Anthony Bloom once said: “We should try to live in such a way that if the Gospels were lost, they could be re-written by looking at us.”
My beloved co-workers in Christ, we have so much to offer each other and indeed, the whole of creation. It is a choice whether we make this offering, just as it is a choice for us each time we enter the Sanctuary and offer the gifts of bread and wine in order to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord.
I look at all of you and I am hopeful for our future as Church, as an Archdiocese, and as this Holy Metropolis of Atlanta. May God always keep you in His grace, and may you always be alive to His call, and serve one another and our world with the Good News of His never-ending love, mercy, and forgiveness.
May God bless you all and all your labors. Amen.

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NEW YORK – On June 30, the Vespers service was held at the Church of the Saints Anargyroi, Cosmas and Damianos, in Washington Heights. The historic church was filled with the faithful from the tri-state area who make the pilgrimage every year in honor of these miracle-working saints.

Fr. Ierotheos Markopoulos, presiding priest of the community, along with priests from various tri-state area communities, presided over the service and led the procession with the icon of the saints which also took place through the streets of the once-Greek enclave of upper Manhattan.

The feast day of Saints Cosmas and Damianos is July 1.

Greeks began moving to the area in the 1920’s and by the 1950’s and 1960’s it was referred to as the “Astoria of Manhattan,” according to an online article from Macaulay Honors College at City College, CUNY, The Peopling of New York: Armenian and Greek Immigrants.

Since that time, however, the Greek community has moved away, though the church remains as a beacon of the Orthodox faith in Washington Heights.

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NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America received today in his office the visit of the Consul General of Cyprus in New York, Mr. Alexis Phedonos-Vadet, who brought a personal congratulatory letter from the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, on the occasion of the Archbishop’s election and enthronement.

In his letter, Mr. Anastasiades wrote: “You undertake this God-pleasing work in a particularly demanding time and as I am confident of the diligence you will show, I want to assure you of the readiness of both myself and my Government to develop a close cooperation towards the goal of promoting our national issues and supporting the Greek and Cypriot Omogeneia.”

Finally, Mr. Anastasiades in his letter expresses the wish to meet Archbishop Elpidophoros in New York, during his upcoming visit and participation in the sessions of the U.N. General Assembly.
The Archbishop thanked the Consul General and asked him to convey to the President the expression of his gratitude for the honor, and his best wishes for a speedy recovery.

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CONSTANTINOPLE – Pope Francis sent a part of the Holy Relics of Apostle Peter, founder of the Church of Rome, to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

In the context of a visit to Rome of an official delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Pope Francis of Rome took the initiative to offer the Church of Constantinople an ornate reliquary.

The relics, which were kept in the Papal Chapel, were handed over by Pope Francis to Archbishop Job of Telmessos, head of the Patriarchal Delegation, Bishop Maximos of Melitene auxiliary Bishop at the Metropolis of France, and Deacon Vosporios Magafas, Codex Writer of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The official reception of the Holy Relics of St. Peter the Apostle in Constantinople took place on Sunday, June 30, the day when the Church celebrates the Synaxis of the Holy Twelve Apostles, at the nave of the Ferikioi neighborhood of Constantinople, where His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew officiated at the Divine Liturgy.

Patriarch Bartholomew in his sermon said that “Pope Francis made this huge brotherly and historic gesture to give us from the Papal chapel of Paul the Sixth, some small pieces of the Holy relic of Apostle Peter founder of the Church of Rome, which I venerated a while ago, and I was very touched. It was a brave and bold initiative on behalf of the Pope towards the Church of Constantinople, for which we express to him our great gratitude.”

The Patriarch also made reference to the relations between the Churches of Rome and Constantinople, to the dialogue of love that followed the meeting of Pope Paul the Sixth and Patriarch Athenagoras in 1965, and the lifting of the anathemas in 1965, as well as to the Theological Dialogue that is taking place between the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox Church.

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BOSTON – Newly-elected Archbishop Makarios of Australia was enthroned with enthusiasm, joy, and acclamations of Axios on Saturday, June 29 at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation in Sydney.

Thousands of people of all ages came from every part of Australia from early in the morning to participate in the enthronement, including dozens of priests. Hundreds of pupils were dressed in school uniforms and also in traditional Greek costume, tossing rose petals on the Archbishop and shouting “Axios”.

There were many dignitaries and guests, including the New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian, the Federal Immigration Minister David Coleman, the Federal Opposition Leader, Anthony Albanese, Sydney’s Greek Consul-General Christos Karras, and Cypriot High Commissioner to Australia Martha Mavrommati.

Metropolitan Stephanos of Tallinn and All Estonia, representative of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, presided at the enthronement Service. Archbishop Makarios had served diligently near him for a number of years as head of Religious Education and Dean of the Theological School, and he also assisted in pastoral and liturgical work.

Metropolitan Panteleimon of Maroneia and Komotini represented the Church of Greece and its head, His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos.

Metropolitan Gerorgios of Paphos represented the Church of Cyprus and His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos. Metropolitan Andreas of Arkalochorion represented the Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete and Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago along with Bishop Apostolos of Medeia represented the Archdiocese of America and Archbishop Elpidophoros.

Terens Quick, undersecretary of foreign affairs for Greece represented the Greek Government.

Archbishop Makarios, in a telephone conversation with The National Herald, he said “I thank you very much for your wishes and coverage of my election and enthronement.” He added “I am touched deeply by the overwhelming expression of respect and love by everybody here, by the clergy and the laity who had come by thousands to participate in the enthronement service and festivities. I pray to God to make me able to serve these faithful and wonderful people.”

Archbishop Makarios in his enthronement address said among other things that “experiencing the events around my person, instrumentally conducted by the All-Holy Spirit from the 9^th of May – whence the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected my humble person Archbishop of the Most-Holy Archdiocese of Australia – up until today when I ascend my Hierarchical throne,  feeling as though I am being pierced by God’s love, surpasses every word and meaning.” He added “Even more so, I am pervaded by a sense of responsibility, which I assume, and at the same time, I am gripped by the concern as to how I shall finally be able to stand worthy of such divine generosity.”

In another instance he said that, “I declare before this overflowing Church that my foremost desire and plea to all of you is that we sanctify the whole of Australia with the life-giving Gospel; that we render the Church in Australia full of spiritual fragrance; and that we make our witness one of divine grace and love. May we all radiate – the Archbishop, the Bishops, the clergy and our pious people – the light of eternal life, which illuminates and gathers “as one” those who are near and those who are far, those who are familiar and those who are strangers, those who are faithful and those who are not. Let us spread this experience of love to everyone, abolishing the walls of our differences and every notion of prejudice.”

He also said that, “the love of God brought me to you, and for this reason, overwhelmed by this love, I want minister to you with love and with much gentleness and sensitivity…Turning to our youth, I want to assure you that the Church is a sacred institution that will never betray you. I plead to our youth, trust in the Church and remain close to Christ. While people may at times let you down, Christ will always be there for you.”

The Archbishop continued:

“On this solemn day, I wish to express my gratitude to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for his trust and paternal love, and to my brothers-in-Christ, the Hierarchs of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate for their vote. Patriarch Bartholomew is a great and charismatic ecclesiastical person. Everyone knows and acknowledges this. He is not like leaders of this world who rely on the power of corruptible authority. Patriarch Bartholomew leads by his love; he cares for us all; he exudes the fragrance of the Resurrection. Patriarch Bartholomew is a great blessing and a gift of Heaven on earth.

“I don’t believe there are words or means by which Orthodoxy, Eparchies of the Throne, and other Churches and religious traditions – humanity as a whole, and I, personally – could reciprocate all that he has sacrificially and lovingly done for us. I encourage you all, however, and request that you visit the Great Church and His All-Holiness our Patriarch in order that you might experience the inexpressible joy of our communion with him. I wish that the Ecumenical Patriarchate becomes our second home and the place where we shall all be renewed spiritually and derive the strength to continue our ministry faithfully, humbly and effectively in the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.”

An enthronement luncheon followed at Doltone House.

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PARIS – Metropolitan Emmanuel of France participated as a keynote speaker at a meeting of the World Council of Churches and the International Jewish Commission of Interreligious Dialogue that was held in Paris.

He noted that the historic record contains numerous heroic acts by Hellenes to save and protect Greek Jewish citizens during World War II, including actions taken on the island of Zakynthos by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of blessed memory. He also noted the actions in Thessaloniki by Metropolitan Gennadios and the famous letter of March 23, 1943 by Archbishop Damaskinos of Greece, the only Church leader in Europe to condemn the Nazis for their treatment of Jews.

In his speech titled The Normalization of Hatred: Challenges for Jews and Christians Today, Metropolitan Emmanuel said among other things: “On behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, I would like to congratulate you on the occasion of this joint meeting between the IJCIC and WCC on the crucial topic of hatred.

“Last May, I accompanied His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on his visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, in Poland. In the history of humanity, very few places have inspired so much terror, abomination and horror. Auschwitz-Birkenau encapsulates what humankind, moved by pure hatred, can do to dehumanize and desacralize the image of God placed in each and every person.

I was profoundly moved by this opportunity to stand at this place where so many died, victims of hatred and a bloody thirst for injustice. The world continues to mourn this disaster, this unspeakable tragedy. “While walking on the ground of what is today a memorial, the words of Prophet Jeremiah sprang to mind: “How long will the land mourn and the grass of the field wither, because of the vices of those who dwell in it?” (Jr 12:4).

Metropolitan Emmanuel continued:

“The Orthodox Church has many historic ties to Judaism and to the Jewish people. During the Second World War, the people of Greece and the Orthodox Church fought for their Jewish brothers and sisters and saved many of them.

“On July 11, 1942, for example, the German Nazis surrounded the Jews in the city of Thessalonica in northern Greece, in order to send them to the concentration camps. The community paid 2.5 billion drachmas for their freedom, but all they could do was to delay the transfer until the following March. 96% of the members of the Jewish community in Thessalonica, 46,091 people, were sent to Auschwitz. Only 1,950 of them returned to find most of their sixty synagogues destroyed, their cemetery sacked, and their schools dilapidated. Some of the survivors migrated to Israel and the United States. “The Jewish community of Thessalonica survived and currently has about 1,000 members and maintains four synagogues. We remember with pride the bold and courageous behavior of the late Metropolitan Gennadios of Thessalonica who repeatedly took initiatives to protect the city’s Jewish community.”

Emmanuel also said that, “Orthodox Christians stand with sorrow in front of human pain and war. Our faith teaches us that we must not be unfair and irresponsible towards our brethren” and he added that “unfortunately, even today, extremist groups continue to cultivate anti-Semitism. In recent years, the Jewish community in France has been deeply wounded by several vile attacks and murders, clearly showing that anti-Semitism is still real and very much alive. It is unacceptable for us, as Christian leaders, to look the other way while this vile trend spreads across Europe.”

In its statement, the European Council recognizes that Jewish communities in various EU countries feel particularly vulnerable to terrorist attacks following the increase in violent incidents in recent years. It notes that anti-Semitic hatred remains widespread, as confirmed in the 2018 Anti-Semitism Report of the Fundamental Rights Agency.

The declaration calls on the Member States to adopt and implement a holistic strategy to prevent and combat all forms of anti-Semitism in their strategies for the prevention of racism, xenophobia, radicalization and violent extremism. Member States are also invited to step up their efforts to guarantee the safety of Jewish communities and institutions, and Jewish citizens.

The ongoing outburst of religious fundamentalism and terrible acts of violence perpetrated in the name of religion lend credence to modern critiques of religious faith and support the identification of religion with its negative aspects. The truth is that violence is the negation of our fundamental religious beliefs and doctrine. True faith does not release humans from responsibility for the world or the obligation to respect human dignity and struggle for justice and peace. On the contrary, it strengthens our commitment to action and enlarges our witness for freedom and human core values.”

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BOSTON – One of the most memorable and touching moments at Archbishop Elpidophoros’ Enthronement at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York on June 22, was the scene when the Archbishop entered the church and before ascending to the Archieratical Throne, he bowed and kissed his mother’s Nantima hand, and she reciprocated by kissing his while tears came to her eyes.

Nantima Lambriniadis spoke exclusively to TNH, and when asked how she felt about the unanimous election and enthronement of her son as Archbishop of America, she said “on one hand I am very happy, but on the other hand I am sorry, because I will leave and leave my son here.” She added that “but I glorify God because here he is in good hands, people here have shown him so much love and respect.”

When she was asked about the thoughts going through her mind seeing him ascend the throne as an Archbishop, she said “I was so emotional I couldn’t even speak,” and she added “it is not easy, as you understand.”

Elpidophoros was a studious pupil from an early age, in school and progressing further in his education on his own. He was an excellent student, he earned scholarships, established good friendships, and pursed graduate studies, after which he was elected full time professor at the Theological School of the University of Thessaloniki. His mother told TNH Elpidophoros “he was a very good boy since he was a child.”

The National Herald also spoke with His Eminence Metropolitan Avgoustinos of Germany who supported wholeheartedly Archbishop Elpidophoros during his student years when he was pursuing graduate studies in Germany. He told TNH that “I experienced an atmosphere full of life and joy – I was so happy about his success and [attending] the enthronement of a great Archbishop. I am sure that he will write history in America. I am certain that he will care for all, and especially the children” and he added, “I am sure the nave of St. Nicholas will be ready in a few months.”

Metropolitan Gabriel of Nea Ionia and Nea Philadelphia in Athens, who at the enthronement represented the Church of Greece and His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos spoke to TNH with much reverence and honor about Archbishop Elpidophoros. They are connected through strong friendship since both were chief secretaries of Holy Synods, Elpidophoros of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and Gabriel of the Church of Greece. Metropolitan Gabriel, speaking about the enthronement said that “it was a historic day for the Greek-American Community and the Church of America.” He added that “Archbishop Elpidophoros is a person whose name promises that he will offer many things to the Church in America and to the entire world of Orthodoxy. I convey to him the warm wishes of His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos and I wish him from the bottom of heart to have a good and blessed Archpastorhsip. I wish him strength to unite the People in America and to move forward, bringing hope and love to all.”

Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, who had traveled to Constantinople and accompanied Archbishop Elpidophoros to the United States, told TNH that “Archbishop Elpidophoros is a good person. See how he behaves towards everybody and to former Archbishop Demetrios with honor and love? These things show noble mindedness and nobilty. It can be called simple politeness, which is something that is missing today from many.”

Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras spoke very highly about Archbishop Elpidophoros. He told TNH that “Archbishop Elpidophoros is an exceptional hierarch of the Orthodox Church, who has lived at our Ecumenical Patriarchate; he is the spiritual son of our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.” He added that “I am connected with Archbishop Elpidophoros with close personal friendship since both of us were Archimandrites. I am so happy for him and I pray to God to help him in the difficult work he assumes, which is a work for the Glory of God, the salvation of the people, and the glory of our Orthodox mother country Greece.”

Metropolitan Kirillos of Rhodes told TNH that “a new day begins for the Archdiocese of America with a person who promises so much, and we believe that the problems of the past will be overcome forever.”

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CHICAGO – AHEPA fulfilled its $1 million donation to rebuild Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at World Trade Center with a presentation of the remaining pledge balance to His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America at the 97th Grand Banquet, July 5, 2019, announced Supreme President George E. Loucas and Chairman of the Board Nicholas A. Karacostas.

Supreme President Loucas, and Chairman of the Board Karacostas, who also served as the chairman of AHEPA’s Capital Campaign to rebuild Saint Nicholas, presented the donation to Archbishop Elpidophoros.

“Since 1922, AHEPA has stood by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America thus creating the ‘Twin Pillars of Hellenism’ in America that we see today,” Loucas said. “We are deeply grateful to the AHEPA family; to our amazing grassroots network of districts, chapters, and dedicated members, all of who made this landmark donation a reality.”

Karacostas added, “We are proud to be the only secular organization to make and fulfill a one-million-dollar donation to this campaign. I echo the sentiments of Supreme President Loucas in convey our sincere appreciation to all our donors.”

Additionally, Loucas and Karacostas expressed confidence Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine will be rebuilt and both hope AHEPA’s fulfillment of its pledge will provide the springboard for the additional support the project needs.

The 97th Grand Banquet is the pinnacle event of the 97th Annual Supreme Convention, which took place this week in Chicago, Ill.

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CONSTANTINOPLE – Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met with the new head of the Metropolitan City Council, the Mayor of Constantinople Ekrem Imamaglu at the Mayoral Hall on July 4 and congratulated him on his recent election.

His All-Holiness wished that Mayor Imamoglu, on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and his homeland, would be successful in his multifaceted work and would contribute during his term of office to improving the quality of life in the developing urban fabric of the Metropolitan Municipality, with the implementation of more environmental and social policies to the benefit of all the inhabitants of the City.

During their heartfelt discussion, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew referred in particular to the importance and magnitude of the institution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which has always been based in this historic city, and also to the initiatives of the Ecumenical Throne to sensitize every human being of good will to the need for the protection of the natural environment, as well as to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue with a view toward mutual understanding, respect for diversity, and the peaceful coexistence of human beings of different origins and religious beliefs.

After the meeting the Ecumenical Patriarch said, among other things, that with his visit, he wanted to congratulate the new mayor for his election. It was particularly important that the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which is the Center for Orthodoxy, is located in such a multicultural and multi-religious city, and he pointed out that this is not only a religious foundation, but an institution that has made a significant cultural contribution over time. He expressed the certainty that the new mayor, who is a man of good intentions, will work for all citizens without discrimination.

“I convey the prayers of the Patriarchate and the Homeland for success in your work,” His All-Holiness said.

For his part, Mayor Imamoglu expressed his joy at the visit of the Patriarch and stressed that he would attach great importance to the cultural dimension of the city, and that he would soon take initiatives to implement this commitment. He underlined the fact that the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a leading institution in the world, is based in the city, and announced that he intends to create a body that will deal with and cooperate with all the religions of the city.

It should be recalled that in recent months, Imamoglu, accompanied by his colleagues, twice visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate, where he was received by His All-Holiness.

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PARIS – Metropolitan Emmanuel of France attended and spoke at the graduation ceremony of a special program of the Paris Institute of Political Studies which aims to train religious officials for participating in interreligious dialogue.

The Metropolitan of France is one of the founding members of this program, now in its third year of operation under the auspices of the French State.

Protopresbyter Father Andriy Svynarov and the orthodox theologian and hagiographer Maciej Leszczynski graduated this year from the program which is attended by students from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy.

During his service to the Church, His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel (Adamakis) has become an advocate for peace and dialogue. Born December 19, 1958 in Crete, his advanced studies in Philosophy and Theology were at the Faculty of Humanities of the Catholic Institute of Paris and St. Sergius Orthodox Institute. He continued his studies in Religious History at the Sorbonne (Paris IV) and the Higher Institute of Ecumenical Studies at the Institute Catholique de Paris, an later matriculated at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston.

He was ordained a deacon and priest in 1985 and in 1987 was appointed as the Chancellor of the Metropolis of Belgium while serving as Dean of the parish of the Taxiarchae in Brussels and teaching Orthodox Religion at the European Schools.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew appointed him to head the Liaison Office of the Orthodox Church to the European Union at its inception in 1995. In 1996 he was elected Bishop of Reggio, and was appointed auxiliary Bishop of the Metropolitan of Belgium. In early 2003 he was unanimously elected by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to be Metropolitan of France. Since 2001 the Ecumenical Patriarchate has entrusted him with responsibilities for the International Interreligious Dialogue with the Monotheistic Religions. He also represents the Ecumenical Patriarchate in theological dialogues with the Vatican, the ancient Oriental Churches, and among the Autocephalous Orthodox Churches.

He continues to direct the representation of the Orthodox Church to the EU. He is Vice President of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and of the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of France, co-president of the Council of Christian Churches of France, as well as co-president of the World Conference of Religions for Peace. He speaks fluent Greek, French, and English. Metropolitan Emmanuel has been named Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in France, among other Church and state distinctions. He also currently sits on the Board of Directors of Kaiciid in Vienna.

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BOSTON – In an interview with The National Herald Metropolitan Theoliptos of Iconium, one of the most prominent hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and a close associate of Patriarch Bartholomew, described Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, whom he has known since they were students, as a “charismatic and talented clergyman.”

The interview follows:

The National Herald: Thank you, Your Eminence, for the opportunity to talk about the new Archbishop of America, Elpidophoros. Let’s start with the question of where, when, and how you met him – do you remember?

Metropolitan Theoliptos: I thank you very much, Mr. Kalmoukos, for giving me the opportunity to talk about our holy and beloved brother, Elpidophoros of America. I met him on Mount Athos when he was still a student at the Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. I was recommended by the Metropolitan and by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with whom we were officially visiting Mount Athos. He knew him.

I remember him telling me that “after his studies he will come to serve in the Patriarchate.” The second time I met him was when, as a second deacon, I accompanied our Patriarch on a visit to the holy Church of St. Paraskevi in Kazlicesme, where the Patriarch received a German group and called him in to be translator. The background of the holy Archbishop of America (who comes from Macrohori in the historical Metropolis of Derkoi, of which I am a scion) led me to approach him.

TNH: I saw in the photos that you served at his diaconal ordination with the current Metropolitan of South America, Tarasios.

Theoliptos: That is true, at his diaconal ordination, in 1994, the holy Metropolitan of Buenos Aires, Tarasios, served as tertiary, and my inferiority as secondary, among the Patriarchal deacons.

TNH: What are your thoughts today about Elpidophoros being the Archbishop of America?

Theoliptos: As you know, the Archdiocese of America is the largest and most important province of our Ecumenical Patriarchate abroad. And the concern of both our Patriarch and our Patriarchate in general is great and sincere for this great Province.

Its flock is a pious people, close to the Church, people who, away from their homeland, are trying to remain faithful to Orthodoxy and the customs and traditions of our People and our Nation. Thus the Ecumenical Patriarchate always made sure that the hierarchs of this province were remarkable hierarchs of the Throne, as were, for example, the blessed Archbishop Athenagoras, (later Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I) and Iakovos Coucouzis. The new Archbishop of America, Elpidophoros, is the best our Patriarchate had to offer from its hierarchs to the Archdiocese of America. And that is precisely what the Patriarch’s interest in and love for those in the Archdiocese calls for.

Although there is a shortage of people born in Constantinople and with Turkish citizenship, our Patriarch did not hesitate to propose to the Holy and Great Synod the Metropolitan Elpidophoros of Proussa, and I repeat, as the most suitable for this position, while he could have kept him here for the needs of the Patriarchate.

TNH: Did you predict that one day Elpidophoros would ascend to such a high level?

Theoliptos: I admit that I did. The new Archbishop since the early years of his ministry in the Patriarchal Court has shown himself to be a charismatic and talented clergyman.

TNH: How would you describe him? What kind of man is he?

Theoliptos: Describing a talented and charismatic man, such as your new Archbishop, is difficult, dear Mr. Kalmoukos, because there is always the fear that you might not do him justice. Nevertheless, I will attempt it, and I will tell you that the holy Archbishop of America, Elpidophoros, is a man of faith in God, with love and devotion to our Ecumenical Patriarchate and to our Patriarch.

He is a man with an immense theological education, a linguist, knowledgeable about the ecumenical movement, a man of dialogue, of every dialogue, with love for his fellow man, with dedication to his duty, laborious, systematic; whatever the Church has entrusted to him so far, he has done in the best way.

He has experience in management. He demonstrated this as Metropolitan of Proussa, but above all as Abbot of the Monastery of the Holy Trinity of Halki, where there is also the historic Theological School.

He manned the holy Monastery, in a short period of time, with new people whom he chose, young, educated, and cultured, who not only manned the holy Monastery, but also filled priestly positions in the Archbishopric of Constantinople and in the Metropolises within the country and abroad. He organized, always with the permission and blessing of our Patriarch, various conferences at the Theological School of Halki with theological and ecological content, and successfully hosted musical concerts featuring well-known great musicians, as well as exhibitions, etc.

The holy Archbishop of America is a laudable clergyman because everything that he has acquired, education, character, communication ability, diligence, he owes only to himself. It does not come from his home, or from a wealthy family of note.

He is a child of simple, hardworking parents. He worked, tiring himself out, without the help of anyone; on the contrary, he continued in spite of many difficulties that tested him and proved the talents given to him by God, his gifts and abilities, and thus he won the love and confidence of our Patriarch, as well as most of the hierarchs of the Throne. And today, with the blessing of God and the love of our Patriarch, he holds this high rank of Archbishop of America. He is a bold, brave and determined man.

TNH: What do you think the Church and the United States of America should expect?

Theoliptos: The local Church and the United States of America should expect their Archbishop to work and return the holy Archdiocese again to the former glory that it had in the era of the late Archbishop Iakovos, which it unfortunately lost over the past 23 years, and I dare to say, he will surpass it, first, and secondly, as he himself says, restore the Archbishopric and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

These things will, of course, be done on his own initiative, but also with the cooperation and support of the people of the United States. And then I’m convinced that he will succeed. He is willing and determined to work for the sake of the Archdiocese, the people, and our Patriarchate.

TNH: What would be some of the brotherly advice that you would give him?

Theoliptos: I do not think he needs any advice. He is also a graduate of the University of the Phanar, and has 25 years of experience, which he has acquired from the positions he has held in the court of the Phanar up until today. All I want to ask him is to be who he is. Keep that, which I described before.

TNH: How do the Patriarch, the hierarchy and the other fathers feel in the Phanar about his reception and enthronement?

Theoliptos: I would not like to say how the hierarchs and the other fathers feel in the Phanar. But what I can tell you with certainty is that our Patriarch, with whom I have spoken, is happy and satisfied with the promising messages arriving at the Phanar from New York and with the affection of the pious flock of the United States for their new prelate. Of course, I am very happy and proud of my holy brother of America.

I pray that God will give him strength and patience to deal with the great problems he has inherited, and enable him to carry out the work commissioned by our Ecumenical Patriarchate.

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TORONTO – On Friday, June 28, with the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop, the Assemblies of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada took place in Vancouver.

The youth conference, with one hundred and seventy (170) participants between the ages of 16-28 from across Canada began on June 28 and ended July 1.

The Ladies Philoptochos conference began on June 28 and also ended on July 1st. One hundred and ten (110) ladies from across Canada participated.

The Clergy-Laity Conference started with the celebration of a Divine Liturgy at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Vancouver, where all the participants of the three assemblies, of the Youth, the Ladies Philoptochos, the community delegates as well as the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Canada all attended along with the plenitude of faithful of Vancouver.

The Clergy-Laity Conference with one hundred and seven (107) representatives from communities across Canada commenced on June 30 and ended its work sessions on the afternoon of July 3.

The work of all the assemblies was carried out in an orderly fashion and in the best possible manner. The Clergy-Laity Conference was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Sotirios.

It should be noted that every day from June 29 thru July 3, with the exception of Sunday, Divine Liturgy was celebrated from 8:00 until 9:15 AM by His Eminence Archbishop Sotirios, serving as a simple priest, at an area of the hotel which was transformed into a chapel. All the representatives of the three assemblies: the youth, the ladies Philoptochos, and the Clergy-Laity attended these Divine Liturgies. Thus, in this spiritual manner did every day begin. Each day ended in similar fashion with vespers service.

His All-Holiness Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew sent his greetings and a message which was read aloud by Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Dean of the Patriarchal Theological Academy of Toronto, the Very Rev. Fr. Athenagoras Ziliaskopoulos.

At the official dinner, among the many other dignitaries in attendance, were Tasoula Berggren, Honorary Consul of Cyprus, and Athanasios Ioannou, Consul General of Greece in Vancouver.

The theme of this year’s Clergy-Laity conference was:

“And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand” (Matthew 12:25).

At the youth and Philoptochos assemblies, many relevant topics of concern to each, were discussed. The topics and subject matter of the Clergy-Laity was as follows: The Youth as a Bridge between the Past, Present and Future. Speaker: Fr. D. Antonopoulos; Philanthropy: Internal and External. Speaker: Fr. T.  Alamanos; Greek faith & Orthodox Education: Connecting salvation with Greek Education. Speaker: Archon Depoutatos – Spyros Volonakis, Director of Greek Education; Internet Ministries: Importance, Budget and Expectations. Speaker: Archon Ostiarios – Evangelos Sotiropoulos; The Church at Home: Contemporary Challenges. Speaker: Fr. K. Kaltsidis; Greek Orthodox Community: Unifying the Faithful – Spiritual Life – Administration – Conformity and Journeying together in harmony with the Holy Metropolis and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Speaker: Archon Prostatis Ton Grammaton – Michael G. Ikonomou.

All the topics were studied and discussed in depth and in a spirit of love and harmony, motions and resolutions were received and adopted.

Participants expressed their deepest gratitude for what was a successful conference to the four local communities of Vancouver, East Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria, and to priests Fr. Constantinos Economos, Fr. Constantinos Kaltsidis, Fr. Timoleon Prattas, and Fr. George Tolias, and to the organizing committee.

Archbishop Sotirios expresseed his warmest thanks to all, and especially towards His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew for the elevation of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada.

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NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros received a letter of congratulations from President Donald Trump for his enthronement as Archbishop of America.

The text of the President’s letter follows:

“Your Eminence,

“I send my warmest congratulations on your enthronement as Archbishop of the Greek Archdiocese of America. Melania and I join your family and community in celebrating this momentous occasion.

“Our Nation has a long history of drawing strength from faith, and I commend your efforts to instill and nurture the sacred values our country holds dear. The Greek Orthodox Church offers comfort and healing, as well as great joy, fellowship, and peace. For America’s Orthodox faithful, the church is central to life’s most meaningful moments and milestones.

“May God bless you, and may He continue to bless the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
Sincerely,

“Donald J. Trump (signature)”

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CHICAGO – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America was enthusiastically welcomed by the delegates of 97^th Supreme Convention of the Order of AHEPA in Chicago. The Archbishop was the main speaker at the Grand Banquet on Friday evening, July 5, when he praised AHEPA’s contribution to Hellenism and the Orthodox Church.

The text of the Archbishop’s speech follows:

“Beloved members of the AHEPA Family,

Greetings to all of you in the grace of God and in His boundless love that has been revealed to us by our Risen Lord. It is in this love that you and faithful across our Holy Archdiocese have welcomed me as Archbishop of America, a sacred calling and responsibility to God and to the Church. Filled with His love and strength, and inspired by His divine presence and guidance for the work that is before us, I have entered this blessed pastorate of the Archdiocese of America so that together we may offer a compassionate and powerful witness of our faith throughout this great land and support the witness of Orthodoxy around the world.

“It is also in the love of God that I convey to you the greetings and blessings of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.  You are dearly loved by him as your support for the Church and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, your longstanding witness of philanthropy, your commitment to Hellenic ideals, and your service to those in need exemplify the exhortation of the Apostle Paul: ‘whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.’ (Philippians 4:8).  Your witness as the AHEPA family affirms that you not only think about these things, but you do these things!

My heart is filled with joy to address you on this wonderful event of the Grand Banquet of the AHEPA Supreme Convention. This is a blessed opportunity for fellowship in the bonds that we share through our faith, our legacy, and our service. It is also an opportunity to affirm the great potential we have before us.

The witness that you offer as the AHEPA family is a witness of love: love for your fellow human beings, love for one another, and love for God. It is a love that comes from the unlimited love that God has shown us. The Holy Apostle John writes, ‘we love, because He first loved us (I John 4:19)…It is the love that surpasses all knowledge (Ephesians 3:19)…It is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things’(I Corinthians 13:7).

“And as people of faith whose lives have been transformed by the power of love, we know that we can never be separated from the Source of this love: ‘For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor power, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.’ (Romans 8:38-39).

In your service as members of AHEPA and in our service to God as His Church, we know that this love is not limited by distance. This is why I can convey and you can receive the love and blessings of our spiritual father, His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.  We share this love with our brothers and sisters throughout this nation and around the world. It is the love that unites us in Christ. It is the love that guides and inspires us to address the needs of our youth, the elderly, the orphan and widow, and all who need physical and spiritual healing. It is the love that leads us in gratitude to offer all that we are and have as a witness of our faith and for the glory of God.

“In addition, we know that this love cannot be limited by any power that is contrary to the will of God. We gather for this banquet during the annual commemoration of the independence of this great nation of the United States of America. This holiday is a celebration of freedom, and it honors the value of this ideal in providing a social and political environment where people can flourish and explore the potential of their God-created, human ability. As heirs of a noble Hellenic heritage that has cherished freedom and as the children of our Greek forbearers who sacrificed for independence, we know the value of freedom. We know that freedom is inseparably connected to the love of our fellow human beings and our love of God. We affirm that we have been called to freedom so that through love we can be servants of one another (Galatians 5:13); and because for freedom Christ has set us free (Galatians 5:1), we are called to use this freedom, as you the AHEPA family do so admirably, so that others may experience this love.

“Within a few years both our Holy Archdiocese and the AHEPA family will celebrate centennial anniversaries in this nation of freedom and hope. These anniversary events are certainly times of remembrance. We will reflect on a century of faith and service. We will mark great accomplishments; honor the memory of so many who offered so much, and give thanks to God for His many blessings.  But we will also affirm that all that has been achieved has been through His love and the love we share. We will recognize that we are the benefactors of a legacy of love that has impacted innumerable lives.

“As we prepare for these commemorations, we share great joy in knowing that the Holy Archdiocese of America and the AHEPA family have worked together and shared this legacy. Over the past century, the members of AHEPA have supported the sacred ministry of the Church through the establishment and growth of our parishes, through the support and leadership offered in our national programs and initiatives, and through the unwavering support for our beloved Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Church has continued to recognize in love and gratitude the vital work of AHEPA in education, philanthropy, civic responsibility, and in so many other areas of service, as well as in advancing Hellenic ideals which inspire and enliven our common humanity and enhance our witness of our Orthodox faith. My hope and prayer is that this relationship will not only continue in the love that we share and that it will bear much fruit, but that it will also become even stronger as we prepare and commit for the work that is before us. Together, we can and will accomplish tremendous things that will reveal our love for God and our love for each other. Through our shared efforts in ministry and service, many more will experience God’s transforming love. Together, we will honor the legacy of love that has been given to us by our forbearers, and we will bring honor and glory to God for the great and marvelous works that we will see.

May His blessings be upon you and the vital work and service of AHEPA and the AHEPA family.”

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CONSTANTINOPLE – His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in a statement on the extreme weather phenomena, which left seven people dead and many injured, in Halkidiki and northern Greece said that “the extreme weather phenomena remind us the reaction of nature as a result of the disrespectful human interference in it.”

He stressed that the Ecumenical Patriarchate had been fighting for the protection of the natural environment for decades because the consequences of its devastation affect the whole planet, adding that he is thinking about the families of the victims of the storms and that he is with them in spirit and prayer, and urged all to pray for the repose of the souls of the victims and recovery of the injured.”

The statement of the Ecumenical Patriarch has as follows:

“It was a shocking moment for the inhabitants of Halkidiki and northern Greece, and the Mother Church of Constantinople is spiritually and prayerfully close to the families of the victims and the injured. The Mother Church asks the Creator to heal their wounds and to protect this region and Greece from any danger and threat.

Extreme weather phenomena remind us not only of the power of nature, but also of its reaction as a result of the disrespectful human interference in it. The Ecumenical Patriarchate, for decades, has been struggling to protect the natural environment, which is our common house, and we must not destroy it, because the consequences affect not only the place where the natural ecosystem is destroyed but the whole planet.

“We call upon all people of good will to take action, in preserving the Creation and we urge everyone to pray for the repose of the souls of the victims and the recovery of the injured and to support, by all available means, our fellow humans who had countless repercussions and serious material damage.”

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SAN FRANCISCO – The Metropolis of San Francisco will welcome Archbishop Elpidophoros in early September. The text of its news release follows:

“His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America will bless us with his visit to the Young Adult League Conference being held in Long Beach, California over Labor Day Weekend 2019. The event is organized by the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco.

“Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco stated that ‘It is a great honor to have His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America attend and share his vision at the Metropolis of San Francisco Young Adult League Conference. These attendees are the emerging leaders of our Archdiocese and it will be a wonderful opportunity for them to receive the blessing of Archbishop Elpidophoros, who will also bring greetings from our Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This event will provide a weekend of fellowship, friendship, faith, and service, and with young adults from 22 states representing our Archdiocese so far, I am confident this weekend will be historic on many levels for the Church.’

“There is still time for young adults ages 18-35 to register for this event. Registration, hotel and workshop details are available on the conference website. Events include a presentation from Emmy Award winning actor Jonathan Jackson, inspirational workshops, daily worship, a community service project, beach party, Grand Banquet, and dinner aboard the Queen Mary.”

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PERTH, Australia – His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia set out on a pastoral tour to all Australian districts to meet those faithful who couldn’t attend his enthronement ceremony on June 29, and, at the same time, to see the problems and needs of parishes and communities, monasteries and charitable institutions of these areas.

The first destination of his tour was Perth in Western Australia. The main reason for this choice was that Perth was the destination of the Greek immigrants, 2,500 of whom arrived from Greece each time, after a long trip on the ocean liner Patris.

From Perth, most of the population of Greek immigrants then scattered across the continent of Australia.

Archbishop Makarios arrived at the airport of Perth in the afternoon of July 11, where he was welcomed with enthusiasm, joy, and emotion from the clergymen and the monks of the St. John Holy Monastery.

During the Holy Synaxis, the Archbishop stressed the importance of the priestly ministry, asked the priests to pay attention to the programs for the youth, and referred with warm words to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Moreover, Archbishop Makarios announced that Archimandrite Elpidios Karalis will serve as the new Archieratic Commissioner for the Perth region.

It is worth noting that the Perth region has so far been a part of the Adelaide region.

On July 12, Archbishop Makarios and those accompanying him visited the World War II Monument at King’s Park, and then the Churches of Saint Nektarios, where the Archbishop also had the chance to see the works of the new “Basiliada”, St. Constantine and the Annunciation of Virgin Mary.

On Saturday, July 13, the Archbishop held meetings at the Holy Monastery with expatriates and officials of the Archdiocese of Perth, and in the afternoon he returned to his seat in Sydney.

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CATSKILLS, NY – The Northern Chios Society of Pelineon- Agia Markella welcomed hundreds of Greek-Americans on July 13-14 to its annual celebration of the feast day of St. Markella.

The actual feast of the beloved martyr is on July 22, but the Society traditionally holds vespers services and the Divine Liturgy on the Saturday and Sunday before or after the feast day.

This year, the ecclesiastical celebrations were even more distinctive, as His Eminence Metropolitan Markos traveled from Chios to preside over the services and the church is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

According to the organizers’ estimates, around 300 people attended on Saturday evening, while more than 800 people attended the weekend’s events altogether.

“Buses arrived from Brooklyn, Queens, and Pennsylvania. Other friends came with their cars from New Jersey and other areas. The celebration with traditional Chian music on Saturday night ended at 4 in the morning, but we did not go to sleep because three hours later the Sunday program started,” Society President Dimitris Moutafis said.

Metropolitan Markos of Chios presided over the services on Sunday along with Rev. Fr. Vasilios Louros, from St. Demetrios Cathedral of Astoria, who comes from Chios and is the presiding priest of the Church of St. Markella. At the same time, two memorials were held: one in memory of George Leonardos, an active member of the Dafnousion Society, and a second dedicated to all the expatriate Chians who have departed this life in recent years.

“I would like, for all of us, to thank our Metropolitan Markos and Mayor Manolis Vournou and his wife, who kindly accepted our invitation and were here. I want to note that Metropolitan Markos’ speeches, one on Saturday night and one on Sunday morning were moving. His words touched us all. Everyone was tearing up with emotion. It was unbelievable,” said Moutafis.

The Metropolitan of Chios honored Nikos Katsapis and Konstantinos Rallis with the icon of St. Markella, as well as the Society President Moutafis.

At the same time, His Eminence distributed small icons of St. Markella to the whole congregation, and donated to the church a piece of stone from the place where the holy martyrdom of St. Markella occurred in Chios.

At the same time, Moutafis particularly thanked all those who contributed to the success of the events, making special reference to Steve Zervoudis and George Siamboulis, who acted on behalf of Pan Gregorian.

Metropolitan of Chios: Religion is the coherent link

Especially moved about meeting with the Chians of America, Metropolitan Markos of Chios spoke with The National Herald, and thanked the Northern Chios Society of Pelineon- Agia Markella, with whom his pastoral ministry is connected.

“I thank the Chians who invited us, especially the Northern Chios Society of Pelineon- Agia Markella president and the members of the Board of Directors. I would like to say that there, in Spartounta, I presided over my first divine liturgy as a bishop at Christmas,” he said, adding the message of Orthodoxy’s strong role in preserving the morals and customs of the Omogeneia.

“We wanted to give the blessing of St. Markella as proof that religion is the most basic coherent link that has kept our family united from the years of Byzantium to our present day, all over the earth. To enable the tree to spread its branches so far and not be cracked off by the gusts of any wind, its roots must be deep. Our roots are our faith in Christ, the preservation of our national consciousness, our tradition, our language. Our presence here brings this message,” concluded Metropolitan Markos.

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