BOSTON – An individual or individuals unknown thus far vandalized the historic church of St. George in Lynn, Massachusetts on Sunday morning September 8.

Two of the church’s icons in the outdoor outer narthex of the nave depicting the holy image of the Virgin Mary and one depicting Saint George, who is the patron saint of the parish, were defaced with graffiti that made references to the devil and to anarchy. There was graffiti on the front wall of the nave and spray-painted symbols of an upside down cross, the number 666, and an A with a circle, which represents anarchy.

During a telephone interview Father George Tsoukalas, who has been presiding priest for 23 years, said that “the first one who saw the vandalism was John Meklis, former president of the Parish Council on Sunday morning and he notified me immediately.” Fr. George added that, “we don’t know exactly when the vandalism occurred or who did it.”

Fr. George also said that “the police came, also the mayor of the city of Lynn, Mr. Thomas M. McGee, who was very sad and said that this is an act not only against the church but against the entire Community of Lynn.”

Asked how much the damage is estimated to cost, Fr. George said “fortunately I have here the iconographer Alexander Milan who came with special spray and he cleaned the icons, but the difficult part is the wall. A special company will come to clean it.”

St. George of Lynn has one of the most glorious naves in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. During the Labor Day weekend the parish had organized its annual Greek Festival which is a major cultural event for the entire city of Lynn and the surrounding Communities.

The Greek Orthodox community in Lynn was incorporated on April 5, 1905. A pioneer group of Greek immigrants established the church for the purpose of perpetrating their religious and cultural heritage, which has since grown into one of the largest religious congregations, not only in the city of Lynn, but also in the Greek Archdiocese of America.

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BOSTON – Archbishop Elpidophoros of America appointed Archimandrite Athenagoras Ziliaskopoulos chaplain at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston, in charge of the worship life of the School and the orderly functioning of the Chapel.

It is the first appointment of Archbishop Elpidophoros at the School of Theology, which he has officially announced that he will reorganize. As The National Herald has revealed, the School of Theology is in a dire condition from administrative, academic, and financial points of view.

Archimandrite Athanagoras Ziliaskopoulos was until now Director of the Patriarchal Orthodox Theological Academy of the Archdiocese of Canada in Toronto.

He has known Archbishop Elpidophoros through a long time of through a long time of acquaintance and friendship. “We have known each other since our teenage years. He always stood out for his zeal, his learning, his determination, his seriousness, his simplicity, his contentment with modest things, his discernment, his deep faith and his love for the Church. He has educated himself very broadly, has cultivated excellent administrative abilities, and has made exceptional academic contributions to Orthodox Theology. With an open spirit, a strong theological foundation and a disposition towards reconciliation, he has served in support of the Church’s dialogue in every direction.“
He also said that the Archbishop “loves man not merely as a fellow human being but as the image of Christ and is totally consumed with the ecclesiastic ministry of God’s people. He has an incredible courage to defend what is right until the end, both at the human-pastoral level as well as the ecclesiastical level. He is known for his insight and ability to see light and hope in the future – very much in keeping with his name – when everyone else sees darkness and despair. But what characterizes him above all is his sacrificial love for the Mother Church and the Ecumenical Patriarch. With him, we turn the page and engage ourselves in the good fight of our faith at all levels. His main concern is the Holy Cross Theological School. He envisages it as the light on the lampstand, the training ground for capable and well-educated clergymen, a pole of attraction for theological pursuits, and a center of excellence for Greek Orthodox education and civilization.“

Fr. Ziliaskopoulos, Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne, was born in 1970 in Reutlingen, Germany. He spent his childhood in both Germany and in Greece with his parents Dimitrios and Fotini. His family is from the village of Thourio in Evros, and the village of Vlasti in the region of Kozani.

Fr. Athenagoras earned degrees at the undergraduate level in German philology and Orthodox theology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. At the postgraduate level, he completed a program in German studies and pedagogy at the University of Frankfurt, as well as graduating from the Department of Pastoral and Social Theology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Fr. Athenagoras has also completed coursework at the University of Frankfurt in the areas of comparative religion, philosophy, Evangelical and Roman Catholic theology, and Islamic studies. In 2012, he was conferred a Ph.D. from the Department of Pastoral and Social Theology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki on the basis of a doctoral dissertation titled The Attitude of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) Towards the Papal Encyclicals After the Year 1965.

Having spent several years on Mount Athos as a monk, he was ordained to the diaconate in 1997 and to the priesthood in 1998 at the Church of the Prophet Elijah of Frankfurt. In 2000, Fr. Athenagoras was conferred the title of Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne. From 1997 to 2017, he served as a priest in the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Germany, and has participated in numerous ecumenical conferences and dialogues.

Fr. Athenagoras also established an Orthodox chapel in the international airport of Frankfurt, one of the busiest airports in the world and has exercised a special pastoral charge over the university students in the Frankfurt area.

In 2017, Fr. Athenagoras relocated to Canada in order to serve as Dean of the Patriarchal Theological Academy of Toronto as well as Office Director of the then-Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto. Fr. Athenagoras also taught the course on World religions at the Academy while also serving as parish priest of the Church of Saint John the Theologian in Toronto as well as confessor for the broader Toronto area. On August 26, 2019, Fr. Athenagoras was transferred to the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology at the request of Archbishop Elpidophoros.

The post Archbishop Elpidophoros‘ First Appointment at School of Theology appeared first on The National Herald.

CHICAGO – The historic 122-year-old Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Chicago was sold for $2.5 million dollars to Universal Life Church. The sale was approved on Tuesday September 10 by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge. Now the parishioners have 75 days to empty the church and its buildings and leave.

Through all the parish’s struggles it was reported that the icon of Mother of God started crying, which many took as a sign from above and others think otherwise.

The Metropolis of Chicago under Metropolitan Nathanael issued the following statement the afternoon of September 11:

“Earlier today, the United States Bankruptcy Court approved the Parish’s motions to approve the sale of the Chicago property and the Deerfield property. The decision comes after a faith-based community stepped forward to acquire the Chicago property, and a developer stepped forward to acquire the Deerfield property, allowing Holy Trinity to reach an understanding with its lender to avoid an auction of the properties. An earlier effort by the Parish to sell the Chicago property to a foundation under a contract dated December 11, 2018 failed because the foreclosing lender did not approve the 75% financing condition of the offer.

“While the Parish’s ongoing foreclosure and bankruptcy has been difficult for parishioners and the Metropolis as a whole, the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church is not closing. The Parish is selling real estate assets to settle debts with a lender.

“While hard choices remain and nothing is yet final, the Metropolis will continue to work closely with the Holy Trinity community to continue parish life and ministries at a location chosen by the community. To this end, a General Assembly meeting was held on June 2, 2019 to inform parishioners of the foreclosure and bankruptcy status. Although a quorum was not present at the meeting, His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael asked about the parish’s fundraising efforts and donor outreach, as well as plans for the future, and he offered assistance in these matters as well.

“We ask the faithful of the Metropolis, along with all people of good will, for their continued prayers and support of the Holy Trinity community during this difficult period of transition and renewal.”

Fr. Nicholas Jonas, Presiding priest of the Holy Trinity refused to make any statement and said in an e-mail “I have a gag order from the Metropolis not to speak to media or post on social media.”

In the meantime the Metropolis of Chicago took the crying icon to examine it.

On September 10, 2019, the Metropolis of Chicago also made the following statement:

“On Sunday morning, September 8, 2019, the icon of the Most-Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary on the iconostasis of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago was discovered, by an employee of the parish, to appear to be weeping. In such cases, Orthodox clergy know to immediately inform their bishop so that he may take appropriate steps to discern the nature of the phenomenon. When similar events were discovered in the Metropolis in the past, such news was not shared until months later in order to discern that what was observed was truly a sign from God. Unfortunately, appropriate discernment was not used in this particular instance, and an announcement was hastily posted on Facebook, which subsequently led to negative public attention.

“In order for the Church to lend its official voice to this event, the Holy Metropolis of Chicago has asked the parish for temporary possession of the icon. After a period of prayer and examination, the Metropolis of Chicago will return the icon to the Holy Trinity parish and will issue an official statement on the nature of what was observed.

“The Metropolis of Chicago asks the faithful to remain vigilant and also reminds them that while it is indeed possible to experience the divine through temporal objects, our faith rests not on “signs,” but on Christ crucified (1 Cor. 1: 20-25).”

It is reminded here that The National Herald first revealed the story of the Holy Trinity financial troubles and the court’s decision to auction the nave and the buildings on December 7, 2018 and since then has written many times on the issue.

In an interview with TNH on December 15, 2018 Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago said that “the issue concerning the parish of Holy Trinity is a complicated and one that spans many years. It is not an ecclesiastical or canonical matter. If it were, you can be certain that we would have found a solution. But here we need to address a legal and economic issue. From the briefing I received, I was informed that there were attempts in the past with my predecessor, Metropolitan Iakovos of blessed memory, to find a solution; unfortunately, however, these efforts did not lead to any tangible result. As we have emphasized in our communiqué, the issue of Holy Trinity is for me a top priority. Although we are limited by the provisions of the Law, we have devoted and continue to devote considerable time and professional manpower in an effort of good faith for the future of Holy Trinity.”

The end result of the sale of the historic church of the Holy Trinity is indicative of other matters in the ecclesial life in America of the Greek Orthodox Church. The mainstream American media has picked up the story with extensive coverage.

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BOSTON – The presiding priest of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox parish in Bahamas Fr. Irenaeus Cox in an exclusive interview with The National Herald described the magnitude of the destruction caused by hurricane Dorian.

“Right now in the Bahamas things are very bad at Grand Bahamas and Abaco. Communications here is up and down as we have many people trying to call their relatives and there are not enough circuits to serve the demands of the callers here. There are also power outages, not from the hurricane but from on-going electrical issues at Nassau which interrupts communication and shuts down access to the internet.” He added that “the destruction is beyond description and the death toll is very high. The smell of death pervades many areas where the lifeless bodies have not even been counted yet. Homes are utterly demolished, torn from their foundations, and the remains of people’s lives are scattered about in a scene that evokes thoughts of Armageddon and the End of the World. Where we are, South of where the Hurricane was at its strongest, there is no sign of destruction. We had some flooding but that caused nothing worse than a mild nuisance when driving one’s car. People in Nassau, and other regions of the Bahamas are mobilizing constantly to transport food and necessities to those in need, and to rescue as many people as possible out of those tragic areas to places where they could be fed and cared for. The physical damage on those islands is one thing; the psychological damage in the survivors is perhaps even worse. Many people on the unaffected islands are opening their homes to strangers as well as friends and relatives who survived. Most people were affected in one way or another as they have friends or relatives that suffered in Grand Bahamas and Abaco.”

Asked about himself, his family and his parishioners, he said “doxa to Theo, we are all well. Some of our people were in Abaco and others in Grand Bahamas, but we were able to communicate with them and they have reported that they survived, but many of their friends and employees were devastated, escaping with only the clothes they wore. They told me that everyone there was in shock, their minds in ‘outer space’, as they still could not comprehend the utter destruction that they survived.”

Asked if any of his parishioners was injured or lost his home or store, Fr. Irenaeus said, “although I have not contacted all my people in those regions, it seems that initially their homes, and even the business of one of the restaurateurs suffered no worse than mild damage, or water damage. I was told that Grand Bahamas, which is one of the larger Islands of the Bahamas, was 75% flooded or under water. Even places miles inland that no one could imagine would ever be under water, were flooded. The Airport was at one time under 12 feet of water, and many survivors claimed that water rose 20 feet above the ground level in certain neighborhoods.”

Speaking about the nave of the Annunciation he said “the church is located in the city of Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, on the Island of New Providence. Most of our community members live on this island, and as I said earlier, there really wasn’t much damage here, just a little flooding or high water on some of the roads. High winds and lightning did not seem to cause any inordinate destruction here. The church itself is under repairs and renovation at this time, but Dorian did not cause any damage.”

According to Fr. Irenaeus, “Annunciation has roughly 130 families, mostly from Kalymnos and Skopelos, but also there are some Greeks from Crete and a few from the mainland of Greece, but from outside of Greece we also have Russian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, and Serbian members from Europe, as well as Lebanon, Egypt, and India, and a few Bahamian convert families.”

Asked if they have Greek School, Sunday School, GOYA, he said “unfortunately the Greek School ceased before I was assigned here five years ago. I have attempted to restart Modern Greek classes but it was not maintainable. I do not consider it a lost cause and would still like to pursue a humble elementary school with Greek as a language requirement for our youngsters and for any other non-Greeks who may wish to take Greek as an elective. I would also like to have a Biblical Greek class for adults, and between the elementary school and the adult classes perhaps grow that into a more formal Orthodox Institute, as was the dream of the second Priest of our community, Rev. Fr. Theophanis Kolyvas of blessed memory.”

To a question about what makes the parish unique, Fr. Cox said, “my first reaction to that question is, ‘It’s in the Bahamas.’ That is in and of itself unique. As an English speaking community, they found themselves in a predominantly Spanish speaking Archdiocese of Mexico and Central America when North and South America were divided into several Archdioceses. As their language made them like outsiders, they chose to petition the Archdiocese of America to return to being under the authority of the Archbishop of New York. That being granted, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is the only community outside the USA to be under New York, and is also directly under the authority of Archbishop Elpidophoros, rather than any of the Metropolitans.”

He also said “in the Divine Liturgy we use both Greek and English throughout all of the Service, except at the Lord’s Prayer we add any other language of the people present who recite the ‘Our Father’ in their own language.”

He also described the lives of the parishioners, saying, “our Parishioners have the same jobs as one might find in any other Greek community in the United States. They began as sponge divers, and then got into the sponge trade until the sponge blight and the invention of the artificial sponge. Only one Greek today remains in the business of cleaning and selling sponges from the sea. Others are involved in restaurants, tourist shops, the insurance business and clothing sales; they work as lawyers, doctors, and in construction and furniture making, among others. As business owners and founders of businesses, they have employed many generations of Bahamians over the years. They first came to the Bahamas in the late 1800’s and by 1917 were incorporated as a Greek Orthodox Community and were served by Bishop Germanos Polyzoidis of blessed memory. In 1932 they established a Church building and received their first Priest, Fr. Theodoros Spirtos from Kalymnos, where he returned when he retired. Fr. Theophanis Kolyvas became our second Priest and he served here with his Presvytera Maria for over 50 years. When he retired, he continued to live here with his family until his repose. Since he was the longest serving priest in our community, he was also honored with being interred with his Presvytera next to the Chapel in which we continue to worship.”

Speaking about the imminent visit of Archbishop Elpidophoros to Bahamas, Fr. Irenaeus said, “we are excited and feel much honored to have the Archbishop visit us, but hope he is able to come after we complete our remodeling of the chapel, which should be soon. It has been many years since we were visited by Archbishop Demetrios. I would be guessing, but I believe it was about 10 or 11 years ago. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is still a Nation following the protocols of the United Kingdom, to which it is attached historically and politically. If and when the Archbishop visits, as he is a person of high religious, social, and political position, it should be part of his agenda to meet with our Bahamian leaders as well.”

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WHITESTONE – The Elevation of the Holy Cross was celebrated around the world on September 14. At Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Whitestone the celebration began with the vespers service on September 13 with an impressive number of area priests (20) participating along with presiding priest of the community Fr. Dionysios Anagnostopoulos.

Fr. Andreas Vithoulkas, presiding priest at Holy Resurrection in Brookville, carried the cross in the procession during the vespers service. Fr. Anagnostopoulos thanked all in attendance, especially the clergy who participated, and wished everyone all the best, while inviting all to attend the Divine Liturgy and the luncheon the following day. An outdoor reception followed the vespers service.

His Grace Bishop Apostolos of Medeia presided over the Divine Liturgy on September 14 for the celebration of the Elevation of the Holy Cross in Whitestone. He spoke about the meaning of the Holy Cross and encouraged all to make the sign of the cross, properly, with the three fingers for the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, as much as possible every day and not be ashamed to do so in public. His Grace noted that each person has a cross to bear and that cross is their bridge to paradise. He wished all those present all the best, especially those celebrating their name day, Stavros and Stavroula, and also conveyed the best wishes of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros who was in Boston at the Holy Cross School of Theology.

Fr. Anagnostopoulos carried the cross during the procession on September 14 with the church full of the faithful.

At the conclusion of the liturgy, Bishop Apostolos thanked the presiding priest of Holy Cross Whitestone Fr. Anagnostopoulos, as well as Fr. Nicholas Soteropoulos, Fr. George Anastasiou, and Fr. Panagiotis Papazafiropoulos who participated in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. His Grace also noted the gifted chanters of the community who impressed the congregation with their remarkable voices.

A luncheon, free to all those present, followed the Divine Liturgy.

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BOSTON – In a devout and enthusiastic atmosphere Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (HCHC) celebrated its name day on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross with a Great Vespers service on Friday evening September 13 officiated by Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. His Eminence was assisted by many clergy from nearby parishes, and the service was led by the newly appointed HCHC Chaplain Archimandrite Athenagoras Ziliaskopoulos. At the end of Great Vespers the Archbishop performed the Stavrophoria and Rasophoria of the Seminarians, presenting them with their crosses and cassocks. The Student Body of both Schools comprises a total of 126 students.

The Archbishop in his homily, which he based on the gospel of St, Matthew, said among other things: “My Beloved Students of our precious ‘Scholi’, The Lord said, ‘if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’(Matthew 16:24). In these words there is a twofold invitation. First, we hear a call to follow the Lord along the path of struggle and pain. Christ suffered for our sake, in body, soul, and spirit, because ‘love bears all things’ and ‘endures all things’ (1 Corinthians 13:7). In whatever ways we serve the Church in days ahead, we will likewise endure stresses and challenges, disappointments and difficulties.”

The Archbishop then quoted Luke 10:2: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few,” and noted that “in Church life, there is much to be done, always. There are never enough hours in the day, ever. As clergy and as laity, we must often put aside our own will. Out of love for Christ and His people, we bear all things and endure all things. These sufferings are summed up in the image of the Cross. Thus, the Lord commands us: to deny ourselves, to take up our cross, and to follow Him…but there is a second invitation in these words. For the Cross is also an image of triumph. Through the Cross, Christ canceled the debt of human transgression (Colossians 2:14). Through the Cross, Christ disarmed the powers of darkness (Colossians 2:15). Through the Cross, Christ was lifted up and so drew all people to Himself (John 12:32).”

He continued, saying that “the Cross is a symbol of ultimate victory over sin and death and the Devil. No human achievement can compare to the Cross. Saint Paul declares, ‘God forbid that I should glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Galatians 6:14). Nothing in his life could compare to the triumph of the Cross. He counted his own ambitions as rubbish (Philippians 3:8); he put aside every former aspiration as irrelevant. To know and to serve Christ was enough for him. In this way, the great Apostle denied himself, took up his cross, and followed in the triumph of Jesus Christ.”

Focusing on the path opening up to the students, the Archbishop said, “today you will receive your own cross to wear and to cherish. Wear it with honor, with courage, with a sense of self-denial. Taking up the Cross, you accept the invitation to strive, to struggle, and to suffer for the sake of the Lord and His Church. And you also accept the call to take part in His triumph, and to have no other glory or boast or ambition in life, than the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Present at the Vespers were Metropolitan Methodios of Boston interim president of the School, Bishop Ilia of Philomelion, and Bishop John of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of New England.

Dozens of Greek Orthodox from Boston and the suburbs filled the Holy Cross Chapel and its narthex and waited patiently in line to greet Archbishop Elpidophoros, to receive his blessings, and to take a photo with him.

It was a special touching scene when Vasiliki Laskaridis from Boston, holding a bouquet of flowers, approached the Archbishop and told him: “Your Eminence I am from Constantinople and I came to kiss your hand. I am very thrilled for your election and I was waiting all day to see you and to wish you Axios. My grandfather built the nave of the Church of the Annunciation in South Tatayla in Constantinople. Please convey my warm regards to your good mother.” The Archbishop spoke to her extensively about Constantinople and said, “I thank you very much for your kindness and I am very happy to meet you.”

On Saturday during the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Archbishop Elpidophoros presided over the Divine Liturgy at the HCHC Chapel and ordained Deacon Philip Halikias to the holy priesthood. After the Divine Liturgy His Eminence chanted a Trisagion at the grave of Archbishop Iakovos of blessed memory, which is behind the chapel.

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PARIS – A three-day conference on Peace in Paris was held by the Conference of European Churches (CEC), on September 10-12. The conference was held in the context of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the CEC and the 100th anniversary of the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 that ended World War I.

Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, in his capacity as President of the CEC of France, addressed the gathering at the opening of the Conference and made a presentation on the subject.

The Metropolitan said, among other things, that “in diplomacy and politics, there is usually no room for humanity and solidarity. When that happens, there are reactions that often lead to disasters, racism, isolation and new wars. Love and charity must be the basic principles of our actions. Politics and sciences are developed to serve humanity, not to isolate people and lead them to extinction through violence, genocide, discrimination and war.”

The President of the Conference of the European Churches, Christian Krieger, as well as the Vice-Presidents of the Parliaments of France and Germany, Sylvain Waserman and Claudia Roth, respectively, also addressed the participants during the opening.

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BOSTON – Archbishop Elpidophoros of America officiated during the Divine Liturgy at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Boston on Sunday, September 15, assisted by Metropolitan Methodios of Boston and many local priests.

It was his first Archpastoral visit to the Metropolis of Boston, which coincided with his five-day visit to Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

Approximately three hundred congregants from Boston and the suburbs were present at the Liturgy, including the Consul General of Greece Stratos Eftymiou.

Businessman and philanthropist Nick Manolis with his wife Voula and their son Elias had traveled from Dracut Massachusetts to Boston because, as they told The National Herald, “we had a strong desire to receive Holy Communion from the hands of our Archbishop.” It is reminded here that Nick and Voula Manolis were the first family from the United States to meet Archbishop Elpidophoros his election last May at the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The Archbishop in his homily said among other things that, “today, we have heard the Gospel in the clearest terms. It is a call to live and to die; to be buried with Christ and to be born again in Him. This call is summed up in the image of the Cross. ‘If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospel’s will save it.’ (Mark 8:34-35). He also said that that the world of mankind is a fallen world. It is sick and dying: wounded by sin, and cut off from God, who is the source of life. For this reason, Christ says that we live amongst ‘an adulterous and sinful generation’ (Mark 8:28). It is a world poisoned by illusions and delusions, ruled by the father of lies, the Devil.

The Gospel calls for us to die to this dying world. Christ teaches us to renounce vain desires and empty ambition. We put aside pride and greed, envy and anger. We seek instead to acquire humility and patience, purity and self-control.”

The Archbishop added that “the Christian Faith is not an easy faith. If we lack a sense of daily struggle, we are missing something. Human nature wants to reduce the spiritual life to a simple formula, to rules and routines. For this reason, we heard Saint Paul today saying: ‘a man is not justified by deeds of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ’ (Galatians 2:16). ‘I died to the law,’ Saint Paul says, ‘so that I might live to God’ (Galatians 2:19).”

The Archbishop made reference to St. Nikitas by saying that “today we remember Saint Nikitas the Great-Martyr. He lived in the fourth century, among the tribes called the Goths. In a time of persecution, Saint Nikitas spoke up boldly on behalf of the Faith and his fellow Christians. For this, he suffered many tortures and finally, death by fire.”

Elias Manolis who met Archbishop Elpidophoros for the first time told TNH that “my impression of His Eminence is that he is truly a man of the people. He has a positive energy that emanates from him and is the guiding light that my generation is searching for the Church.” He added that “Archbishop Elpidophoros will lead us out of the dark times and help move our Church in the right direction. I look forward to supporting the Archbishop’s mission in any way possible.”

Kostas Kechris, parish council member and former president of the Annunciation Cathedral, told TNH that “I am very impressed with His Eminence. I look forward to seeing him again and to get to know him and I wish him all the best.”

Mary Cleary, also a parish council member, told TNH that “I had the pleasure meeting the Archbishop and I was impressed with him because of the humble person his is, his humble approach.” When asked how many years had she served as volunteer at the Cathedral, she said, “since I was a teenager,” and she added “I am the chairwoman of the Greek Festival of the Cathedral this upcoming week and I invite everyone to join us.”

The hymns of the Orthros and the Devine Liturgy were chanted by students from the School of Theology under the direction of Byzantine music professor Fr. Romanos Karanos.

Parish Council president Robert Badavas presented the Archbishop with small replica of the Cathedral and after the Liturgy coffee was served for the entire congregation.

The post Archbishop Elpidophoros Celebrates Divine Liturgy for First Time at Boston Cathedral appeared first on The National Herald.

George and Mary-Ann Psaros from Weirton, West Virginia, proud parents of the prominent global businessman and philanthropist Michael Psaros, were thrilled to have the joyful opportunity recently in New York to meet Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. They felt blessed for their meeting and for being photographed with him.
Photo: Michael Psaros

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BOSTON – Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, in an exclusive interview with The National Herald, discussed the recent sale of the nave of the historic parish of Holy Trinity of Chicago. He also gave his reasons for not informing His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros about the sale and spoke about the crying icon of the Mother of God, the audit of the finances of the Metropolis, and why the Holy Trinity parish continues to have two salaried priests given its financial troubles. The entire interview follows:

TNH: Your Eminence how do you feel about the sale of the Holy Trinity parish and its buildings in Chicago?

Metropolitan Nathanael: The recent sale of the properties of Holy Trinity, including the temple (ναός/naos), has been difficult for both the parish and the Metropolis. I especially feel terrible for the elderly parishioners and those who have recently joined the parish and do not have a full understanding of the complexity and longstanding problems facing the parish. As I lament at the current situation, I draw hope in the words of Saint Gregory the Theologian, who advises Christians to “always look forward.” Although the buildings of the parish have been sold, the parish of Holy Trinity continues through its people. The Metropolis will work with the faithful to ensure they find a new spiritual home.”

TNH: How did things end up at this point? Couldn’t this have been prevented?

M.N: As we stated in numerous public announcements, the parish was carrying a tremendous debt for loans it took out in 2007. The parish owed the bank over $7 Million, an amount that exceeds the combined $4,150,000 sale price for the real estate owned by the parish. As we have reminded the faithful in the past, the loan was obtained from a bank in 2007 and fell into foreclosure in 2015. You can understand that for a community whose membership has been steadily declining for years and is largely comprised of elderly people living off of a very fixed income, it is virtually impossible for the parish to fulfill its debt service. There were numerous efforts, both by the parish and by me personally, to try to identify ways to raise the money. Unfortunately, the funds needed to avoid the sale of the properties could not be raised.”

TNH: As Metropolitan what did you do all these months for the parish to saved?

M.N: Regarding efforts to avoid the sale of the parish properties, I am afraid that the issue was one of fundraising. I not only discussed this with the parish council on numerous occasions, but I also discussed this during a General Assembly of the community. I also met privately with potential donors to determine if they would consider making a major gift. Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough interest on either the grassroots or major gift levels. Before moving on, however, I would like to make something abundantly clear: the community has not been lost and the parish has not closed. Even though the parish has sold its properties in order to pay down its debt, the community continues to exist through its people. Indeed, during these difficult times, many people have rallied behind the parish. Parishioners who have remained on the sidelines for years have realized that they too are part of the community and have a responsibility to help continue the legacy of Holy Trinity beyond the present moment.”

TNH: You begin your archpastorship as Metropolitan of Chicago at the time of the sale the most historic church in the Metropolis. What are your thoughts?

M.N: Holy Trinity’s challenges have been building for several years. I have been the Metropolitan of Chicago for a little over a year and a half. I have been open and honest about the condition of our Metropolis. With full transparency, we have issued multiple public announcements outlining the many challenges we face as a Metropolis, and we did so because we believe that only when the faithful possess such information can they actually understand the importance of their contribution and service. The people of the Metropolis have known about the challenges facing Holy Trinity since at least 2015 with the filing of the foreclosure case by the bank, but there wasn’t enough time or interest in retaining the parish’s properties. As I said above, it is painful to have to sell a temple (ναός/naos); however, conversations with people in the Chicago area have consistently led me conclude that with proper planning and appropriate parish leadership, people will step up and provide Holy Trinity the means to begin the next chapter of its history. One of the most important lessons to be drawn from the Holy Trinity experience is the need for all of our parishes to be financially self-sustaining. At my direction, the Metropolis is working to help develop processes to evaluate and shore up parishes that are struggling financially.”

TNH: How many families does the Holy Trinity parish have today?

M.N: Given that the faithful oftentimes are members in multiple parishes (sometimes across multiple States), it is difficult to have an accurate picture of the number of parishioners of Holy Trinity. At the most recent General Assembly meeting of the parish, which I attended on June 2, 2019, there were only approximately 45 members present, which were not enough for a quorum.”

TNH: Given the withering of the parish why is it sustaining two salaried priests, Fr. George Kaloudis and Fr. Nicholas Jonas? Can’t just one of them serve its needs?

M.N: You have asked me this question in the past and I promised you that I would look into it. I am grateful for your patience. We have recently identified a letter (dated June 15, 2017) from the Metropolis to the parish which outlines the most recent terms of employment of Fr. George. The parish was expected to provide Fr. George a reduced salary until July 2019. At the end of this period, the parish was to determine if these terms were feasible according to its condition and needs. The Parish Council President and Fr. Nicholas Jonas have addressed this matter with us during our most recent meeting at the Metropolis. Given the condition of the community, there does not appear to be a need for two salaried priests moving forward.”

TNH: Are there other parishes in your area which face serious financial problems?

M.N: Your many years of covering ecclesiastical matters have revealed to you the challenges facing parishes all over the country. Indeed, our people make immense sacrifices on a daily basis to continue bearing witness to Christ in the world. Conversations with brother Metropolitans from other parts of the world have introduced me to the many challenges faced by parishes beyond the United States. These exchanges with other Hierarchs have instilled in me an ever-greater admiration and respect for the faithful of the Church. Although the Holy Trinity case is quite unique, I am committed to helping all of our parishes work through their financial challenges no matter how great or small.

TNH: What is going on with the crying icon? Does the Virgin Mary continue to cry?

M.N: As the Metropolis reported in its statement on September 10, an employee of the Holy Trinity parish reported that they observed what seemed to be tears coming down the icon of the Panagia on the iconostasis. Following that original report, nothing similar has been observed. We have asked the parish for temporary guardianship of the icon so that we may dedicate some quiet time to prayer, review, and discernment. The parish accepted our request, and on Monday morning September 16, Fr. Nicholas Jonas voluntarily brought the icon to our Cathedral.

TNH: Did you inform Archbishop Elpidophoros of America about the developments at the church and also about the crying icon?

M.N: His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros is a dear brother of mine and it was a great joy for me, as a member of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, to vote for him as Archbishop of America. His Eminence’s mission is great, and his burden is heavy. Knowing the many serious matters that are the direct responsibility of His Eminence, it is not appropriate for the Archbishop to be inundated with matters of individual parishes, at least not of parishes in another Metropolis. Notwithstanding this, the Metropolis of Chicago has been communicating with His Eminence’s legal advisors and has kept them abreast of the legal proceedings. The Archdiocese has in turn provided our legal team with feedback, which explicitly tells me that His Eminence is aware of the proceedings. Regarding direct communication between His Eminence and I, please forgive me, but I do not feel it is appropriate to disclose conversations between two hierarchs.

TNH: Why have you forbidden Fr. Nicholas Jonas to make statements to the press?

M.N: When you read some of the recent statements made by Fr. Nicholas, I think you will understand why he was asked to avoid making statements to the press.

TNH: How would you comment on the findings of the financial audit at the Metropolis of Chicago?

M.N: I have issued two extensive announcements regarding the financial condition of the Metropolis, the first on June 11, 2019 concerning the financial condition of Metropolis and the second on August 6, 2019 concerning the independent financial audit. If you haven’t already, I strongly encourage you to read these documents. I don’t have much more to say about this.

TNH: Are there individuals who are responsible for the financial condition of the Metropolis before you assumed your duties there, and who are they?

M.N: I started this interview by referencing St. Gregory the Theologian and his advice for Christians to “always look forward.” I would like to close our conversation today with the same words. Who is responsible for the past is anyone’s guess and, quite frankly, is a backward-looking distraction that does nothing to improve our current situation. When I was enthroned, I pledged to institute an era of financial transparency and accountability, a pledge I still take seriously today.

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NEW YORK – The first ever Monastic Assembly of the Sacred Monasteries of the Holy Archdiocese of America convened on the invitation of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, September 21-22 at the Sacred Monastery of Saint Nektarios in Roscoe, NY concluded on Sunday.

Abbots and abbesses of 18 Sacred Monasteries of the Holy Archdiocese of America participated in this assembly. In addition, the following hierarchs attended: their Eminences Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver, Alexios of Atlanta, Nathanael of Chicago, and their Graces Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, Apostolos of Medeia, and Bishop Ierotheos of Eukarpia, Abbot of the Sacred Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monastery of St. Irene Chrysovalantou.

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew blessed the Assembly with an inspiring video message in which he congratulated the Archbishop for his initiative and encouraged him to continue to promote and support the blessed Orthodox Monasteries in the USA. “Orthodox monasteries express Christian authenticity, ‘what is needed’ according to the faith concerning man and his eternal destiny, within the pluralistic, technocratic, and economically focused world of our age,” concluded the Patriarch in his message.

At the conclusion of the inspirational opening address of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America—in which he made reference to the principles and values of the monastic life as angelic life and the observance of the word of the gospel—the following presentations were made:

1. Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta spoke about the current General Regulations and the Regulations of Internal Operations of the Sacred Monasteries of the Holy Archdiocese.
2.  V. Rev. Archimandrite Paisios, Abbot of the Sacred Monastery of Saint Anthony spoke on the topic: “Monasticism: The Apostolic Life.”
3. The Reverend Mother Superior Melani, Abbess of the Sacred Monastery of Saint John Chrysostom spoke on the topic: “Commentary of the Orthodox Monastic Experience.”

The following points were raised during the discussions that followed:

1. A desire was expressed to update the General Regulations and the Regulations of Internal Operations of the Sacred Monasteries of the Holy Archdiocese. A period of time was requested in order to afford the Sacred Monasteries to express their opinions on these to the Archbishop and the members of the Holy Eparchial Synod.
2. The beneficent presence of Elder Ephraim, former abbot of the Sacred Monastery of Philotheou on Mount Athos, was raised, as was his great contribution to the spreading and strengthening of monasticism in the USA.
3.  The need to draft a Protocol for the Sacred Monasteries in the USA was recognized.
4. It was decided that the minutes from the Assembly would be published in both Greek and English.
5. Following the kind invitation of His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, it was decided that the second Monastic Assembly will be held at the Sacred Monastery of the Life-Giving Spring in Fresno, CA, the days of October 9-11, 2020 with the theme: “The spiritual inheritance of the blessed Elder Joseph the Cave-dweller and his offering to Orthodox monasticism in America.”

The Assembly culminated with the festal celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, September 22 presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America together with the Reverend Abbots of the monasteries. In closing, thanks were expressed to His Grace Bishop Apostolos, Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod, for organizing the Monastic Assembly. Gratitude was also expressed to the V. Reverend Archimandrite Joseph, Abbot of Sacred Monastery of Saint Nektarios and his sacred brotherhood, for their Abrahamic hospitality.

Source: GOARCH

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NEW YORK – “The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announces that the Hon. Mr. George Tsandikos and the Hon. Mrs. Catherine Bouffides-Walsh have submitted to His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, their voluntary resignations from the positions of the Vice-President and Secretary of the Archdiocesan Council, respectively,” GOARCH says in an announcement.

The Archbishop has accepted these resignations with regret, praising the faithful service of both of these prominent members of the Church, distinguished for their ethos, and hard work, for their selflessness and devotion to their ecclesiastical authority.

To succeed the above, His Eminence the Archbishop has appointed the Hon. Mr. John Catsimatidis, distinguished businessman to the position of Vice-President, and the Hon. Mr. Theodore Bozonelis, a prominent judge, to the position of Secretary of the Archdiocesan Council. To the new officers of the Archdiocesan Council the Archbishop has wished every success and the blessings of the Lord.

Source: GOARCH

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NEW YORK – The Executive Committee of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America met under the chairmanship of Archbishop Elpidophoros to discuss the state of Orthodox Christian unity in the USA. Recognizing the challenges in global Orthodoxy, the jurisdictional representatives reiterated their commitment to the local faithful of America and rededicated themselves to fulfilling the call for canonical normalcy and pastoral unity on contemporary issues.

The meeting began with jurisdictional updates followed by the Secretary’s report on the activities of the body since the last Assembly meeting in October 2018. The Executive Committee went on to discuss the Assembly’s structure including committees, agencies, endorsed organizations, and dialogues, and decided to analyze all components prior to the next Assembly meeting in order to determine the best path to achieve the ultimate goal of unity.

The heads of the jurisdictions committed to regular concelebration and look forward to the annual Sunday of Orthodoxy celebration in March 2020 in New York. In addition, all other hierarchs, clergy, and laity are encouraged to organize regionally.

Responding to an appeal of Orthodox Christian mental health professionals, the Executive Committee decided to mandate its Endorsed Organization, Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology and Religion (OCAMPR), to develop a task force to address the issue of mental health. OCAMPR will work in partnership with the Assembly, through the Office of the Secretariat. Additionally, the bishops received an appeal from Orthodox Christian organizations working on the crisis of homelessness. In response to their recommendations, a working group to develop an Orthodox Volunteer Corps, under the guidance of the Assembly Secretariat, was sanctioned.

Finally, the date and location was established for the 10th Anniversary Meeting of the Assembly of Bishops: May 2-5, 2020 in Washington, DC.

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NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America expressed his full support for the important and timeless work of Orthodoxy and Hellenism of the Greek Government in a meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister for Hellenes Abroad Antonis Diamataris at the Archbishop’s office on September 20.

Diamataris, who was accompanied by Consul General of Greece in New York Konstantinos Koutras, was warmly welcomed by Archbishop Elpidophoros at their first private meeting since the enthronement of His Eminence last June, but also since his appointment in the Foreign Ministry.

“I had the great pleasure of visiting His Eminence as a representative of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. As you know, my responsibilities as a Deputy Foreign Minister include the issue of Churches outside Greece. We discussed with him the serious problems he inherited, and I expressed the full support of Greece in his efforts,” said Diamataris.

“As I have said many times, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew could not have made a better choice for our Church in America than His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros,” Diamataris noted.

For his part, Archbishop Elpidophoros referred to his long-standing friendship with Diamataris, welcomed his appointment to the Greek government office and hoped that this first formal meeting would be the beginning of a series of working contacts in the near future.

“We have worked with Mr. Diamataris excellently – how could it be different – because our ideas, our visions, our plans for Hellenism and Orthodoxy are completely identical not only with his own views, but also with the views of the Greek government. I am happy that Mr. Mitsotakis assumed the leadership of the country because the whole Diaspora and the Church really look forward to his cooperation,” said the Archbishop.

“I am thrilled that Mr. Diamataris came here directly from Constantinople, because Constantinople is my home, but also the place where my spiritual father, our Ecumenical Patriarch, is worshiping and serving along with hierarchs there in Constantinople, to maintain the pillars of our Orthodox tradition in a country where that is difficult but with the flexibility and creativity of our Patriarch and the whole hierarchy of Constantinople, the Patriarchate not only survives but continues to play a key and successful role in the global forum,” Archbishop Elpidophoros concluded.

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NEW YORK –His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros participated in the Orthodoxy on Tap-NYC event at the Pier A Restaurant at the edge of New York Harbor in Lower Manhattan. One hundred Orthodox young adults and professionals from various backgrounds welcomed him and His Eminence presented a paper titled: Being Orthodox in a non-Orthodox world.

In his remarks, he reminded those assembled of the importance of praying for the world. His Eminence addressed questions of Globalization and Tradition, Orthodoxy and Religious Pluralism, and the importance for young people of a genuine liturgical experience. In his concluding words, he invited Orthodox youth to be missionaries in the world: “Let us find the strength and courage of our Fathers and Mothers in the faith, not to live in isolation, but to participate in the baptism of cultures, languages, and civilizations, by engraving the sign of the Cross as the beginning and the end of all things. We should not be afraid. And to those who write and preach that we as Christians should choose the option of leaving the world, I say, as Orthodox Christians we have the spiritual resources in our Tradition to be in the world, to pray for the world, and to sanctify the world, for the simple and extraordinary reason that: Christ gave Himself up for the life of the world.”

The evening ended with questions from participants to the Archbishop touching upon various themes, from the place of children in the life of the Church to church outreach and ministries. Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A. and Episcopal Liaison of Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) was also among the participants.

Orthodoxy on Tap-NYC is a grassroots fellowship for young adults centered on the Orthodox faith, featuring guest speakers and casual networking.

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NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros chaired his first meeting of the Direct Archdiocesan District Council on Tuesday, September 24 at the Archdiocese. His Grace Bishop Andonios, Chancellor, was also present. Members of the Executive Board are Larry Hotzoglou, Vice-President; V. Rev. Archimandrite Chrysostomos Gilbert, Secretary; and Theodore Germanakos, Treasurer.

During the course of the meeting, the Direct Archdiocesan District Council approved unanimously the formation of an LLC to manage and develop a Faith and Heritage Center in Warren, Connecticut. The Council also approved unanimously the By-Laws of the Direct Archdiocesan District, in addition to reinforcing the Archdiocesan Youth Safety program with an implementation deadline of December 2019 for all of the Direct Archdiocesan District parishes.

Archbishop Elpidophoros thanked the Direct Archdiocesan District Council in his remarks for their dedication of their time, skills and gifts for the good our Archdiocese, and is looking forward to working with them.

Source: GOARCH

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CONSTANTINOPLE – Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Thursday urged global leaders to speed up progress “towards achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement on decarbonisation,” in a message to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on the occasion of the UN Summit on Climate Change in New York.

According to a statement from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Bartholomew also called for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions “as soon as possible,” in line with the requirements of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The patriarch encourages “the world’s economically developed countries to provide the necessary financial support to developing countries in order to facilitate a socially equitable and efficient transition to an environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly course of development.”

While investment models can be successful, “charitable giving must not be overlooked,” the patriarchate.

In his message, Bartholomew recalls that 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the first circular issued by the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the protection of the environment and also establishing September 1 as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

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NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America had a previously unscheduled meeting, late yesterday evening, with the President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Manhattan’s Cipriani Hotel. Accompanying President Edogan was his close advisor Mr. Ömer Çelik, former Minister of European Affairs.

The meeting was cordial and the discussion revolved around issues of minorities in Greece and Turkey, the need of restoration of the Orphanage on the Island of Prinkipos (Buyukada) and the prospects of reopening the Theological School of Halki.

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros emphasized all issues concerning the total protection of Religious Freedom and Human Rights in general.
After being briefed on the activities and accomplishments of the Holy Archdiocese, President Erdogan invited His Eminence to visit him during his next visit to Turkey.

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NEW YORK – His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America welcomed on Thursday at the Archdiocese the Prime Minister of Greece His Excellency Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmHiH1se

Archbishop’s Welcome Address (in Greek)

Read Press Release

PM Mitsotakis meets Jared Kushner

Washington (ANA/P. Kasfikis) – Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday morning local time met with the US President’s senior advisor, to Jared Kushner, who is also Donald Trump’s groom.

The meeting was held in place of a scheduled meeting with Trump which was cancelled after the US President’s impeachment referral by the US House of Representatives.

The Mitsotakis-Kushner meeting was held at Greece’s Permanent Mission at the UN in New York, during which the Greek premier discussed key aspects in Greece-US relations, such as economic and defense cooperation, with emphasis on the so-called green economy.

According to sources, the meeting demonstrates Washington’s increased interest in Greece and its desire to establish effective communication channels between the White House and the new Greek government.

Source: GOARCH, ANA

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KIEV – The Divine Liturgy was celebrated with solemnity in Kiev this week on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross according to the Julian calendar.

Metropolitan Epiphanios of Kiev and All Ukraine celebrated the Divine Liturgy along with Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, who is currently on a visit to Kiev. Also concelebrating was Archbishop Agapit of Vyshgorod, Abbot of the St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery.

The Metropolitan of Kiev thanked the Metropolitan of France for his visit and participation in the Divine Liturgy and asked to convey his respect and love to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

On his part, Metropolitan Emmanuel conveyed the wishes of the Ecumenical Patriarch and thanked Metropolitan Epiphanios for the opportunity to celebrate with the pious Ukrainian brothers the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

It is reminded here that the Ecumenical Patriarchate in January granted Autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine with its first primate His Beatitude Metropolitan Epiphanios. The Patriarchate of Moscow responded by generating problems not only for new Autocephalous Church of Ukraine, but also for Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Orthodox Church around the World.

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