WESTFIELD, NJ – [G.O. Metropolis of NJ]
From Monday, March 10th to Wednesday, March 12th, 2025, the Metropolis of New Jersey with the blessings and participation of His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey, held the Annual Metropolis Clergy Retreat in Ocean City, Maryland, with 55 clergymen from throughout the Metropolis in attendance.
The annual retreat began Monday evening with the Hierarchal Vespers service at the parish of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Ocean City, celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, the keynote speaker for this year’s retreat.
At the end of the Vespers service, Metropolitan Apostolos welcomed Metropolitan Nathanael to the Metropolis of New Jersey and thanked him for graciously accepting his invitation to speak to the Clergy.
His Eminence welcomed all of the clergy to Ocean City and conveyed to them the paternal love and blessings of His All -Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. His Eminence also thanked the Clergy Syndesmos President, Fr. Anastasios Kousoulas, and the host priest, Fr. Christopher Xanthos, for all of their efforts to organize this beautiful gathering.
Additionally, His Eminence also chose to recognize a dedicated clergyman, who has faithfully served the Metropolis for the past 17 years, and therefore bestowed the Rev. Panagiotis Hanley with the Offikion of Archimandrite and granting him the new Ecclesiastical Name of Gabriel. His Eminence and the clergy then proudly exclaimed AXIOS to the now V. Rev. Archimandrite Gabriel Hanley.
On Tuesday, His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael offers two sessions to the Clergy of the Metropolis of New Jersey. Metropolitan Nathanael focused on the mercy of God. God is merciful to all of us and therefore we too much show mercy to one another, to our faithful and also to ourselves. His Eminence also broke the clergy into smaller group sessions allowing them to the opportunity to discuss amongst themselves various questions related to showing and expressing mercy.
After the sessions the Clergy gathered for their annual spring meeting of the Clergy Syndesmos. His Eminence opened the meeting by speaking about the importance of the clergy to be attentive to all of their pastoral duties, to celebrate all of the Divine Services, to pray for one another, and to make sure to develop a good relationship with a spiritual father, who can mentor you and your ministry. Following the various speakers offered reports and updates on the many works of the Metropolis clergy syndesmos.
On Wednesday the annual retreat concluded with a breakfast offered by the community of St. George. His Eminence again thanked the Rev. Christopher Xanthos, the President of the Parish Council and the faithful members of the community for all of their tremendous efforts in welcoming and hosting the clergy from throughout the region. His Eminence then offered his paternal blessings and well wishes to all the clergy for a most blessed and spiritual edifying Holy and Great Lent.
