NEW YORK – GNUSA [Photo: GANP / Dimitrios Panagos]
Centered on the theme “Rise and Build” (Nehemiah 2:18), the 48th Biennial Clergy -Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America will convene at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio, June 28 – July 2, 2026.
Their Eminences Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria and Metropolitan Filotheos of Thessaloniki, along with the Grand Archimandrite Iakovos (Krochak), were appointed by His All -Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as the Patriarchate’s representatives to the Congress.
“To welcome the faithful of our Archdiocese to Cleveland is a tremendous blessing. This Congress will be a time for inspiration and renewal, calling all of us to rise together in faith and build parishes that reflect the love of Christ,” stated the host hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh, who will welcome to Cleveland hundreds of clergy and laity from parishes across the Archdiocese for a week of deliberations.
This year’s Congress, cochaired by John and Effie Trihas, will highlight the ministries and initiatives shaping the future of the Church.
Running concurrently will be the National PhiloptochosConvention, chaired by Anna Vedouras and cochaired by Anita Kartalopoulos, Stella Piches, and Joyce Spanakis, bringing together the dedicated women of the Church’s philanthropic arm, whose ministry supports countless lives across the nation and beyond.
In addition, Cleveland will host the National Young Adult League (YAL) Conference, July 2–5, offering the next generation of Orthodox leaders a vital opportunity to gather in fellowship, faith, and service.
“Each ClergyLaity Congress is a step toward the ongoing growth of our parishes and our Archdiocese,” noted His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros. “In Cleveland, our focus will be on the full scope of parish life—its worship, its ministries, its service, and its unity—so that the faithful may encounter Christ in every aspect of community life. This is how we rise and build the future of our Church together”.
The 2026 Clergy Congress will feature a new format designed—according to GOA—to make the gathering more collaborative and impactful for parishes and delegates. A shorter timeframe will make it easier for more delegates to attend, while expanded ministry offerings will enrich every aspect of parish life. The Congress will also include cultural events connected both to the ClergyLaity gathering and to the nation’s 250th anniversary of Independence.
More information is available at www.clergylaity.org.
