NEW YORK – This morning’s Divine Liturgy at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity began the first day of the much-anticipated 46th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress commemorating the Centennial of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
In an homage to the robust spiritual legacy of the Archdiocese, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros served wearing Episcopal vestments originally belonging to Archbishop Alexander—the first Archbishop of GOARCH (1922-1930)— and which have been worn by each succeeding Archbishop since.
His Eminence also dedicated a moment to the remembrance of the late Archbishop Iakovos, who served for thirty-seven of the Archdiocese’s one hundred years.
Concelebrating were Metropolitans Methodios of Boston, Nicholas of Detroit, Savas of Pittsburgh, Gerasimos of San Francisco and Nathanael of Chicago, Bishops Demetrios of Mokissos, Sevastianos of Zela, Apostolos of Medea, Ierotheos of Efkarpias, Ioakeim of Amissos, Spyridon of Amastris, Timothy of Hexamilion, Ioannis of Phocaea and Athenagoras of Nazianzos, the V. Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios Papazafiropoulos, Chancellor of the GOA, Abbots Alexios of the Xenophontos Monastery and Gabriel of Pantocratoras Monastery on Mt. Athos, as well as Fr. Nicholas Karloutsos, dean of the Cathedral and Archdeacons Philotheos and Dionysios.
Present were also Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon and Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymnon and Avlopotamos, representing the Ecumenical Patriarch, Archbishop Demetrios, formerly of America, and clergy from all over the Archdiocese.
Yet the fullness, or the Πλήρωμα, of the church was clear not only in the presence of esteemed clergy and the eternal memory of iconic Archiepiscopal personalities of the past, but also, and “of the greatest significance”, noted Archbishop Elpidophoros, in “all of you, the Faithful who have come from every corner of our Nation to celebrate this Centennial Clergy Laity Congress, in recognition of our establishment as the First Eparchy of the Ecumenical Throne outside the immediate borders of the Mother Church of Constantinople”.
In attendance were Ambassador of Greece to the US, Alexandra Papadopoulou, Secretary General for Greeks Abroad, John Chrysoulakis, Archons National Commander, Dr. Anthony Limberakis, “Leadership 100” Chairman, Dimitrios Logothetis, Executive Director Paulette Poulos and National Philoptochos 2nd VP, Anita Kartalopoulos.
A full day of events follows the service today, including the Official Openings of both the Centennial Museum Exhibit and the Exhibition Hall, which showcases everything from ministerial opportunities to ecclesiastical goods and services from around the world.
GOA
