Analysis: An Historic Event – The Enthronement of an Archbishop

Τετάρτη, 19 Ιουνίου, 2019

By Theodore Kalmoukos

Newly-elected Archbishop of America, Elpidophoros. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

This week will be marked by a sacred and historic event of supreme significance for our Greek Orthodox Church and Community in the United States, the enthronement of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America on Saturday June 22 at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York.

It is a high point in the life of our Church and the Greek-American Community because the presence, the status, and the role of an Archbishop of America is of pivotal importance because he is the First, the Primate if you wish, of the local Church in America, to put it in more theological terms.

Furthermore, it is an event that doesn’t take place often. The last time we witnessed an enthronement was twenty years ago. It is also significant that Archbishop Elpidophoros is a hierarch of young age, just 52 years old, but with substantial ecclesiastical experience and a track record of flourishing work at the Holy Theological School of Halki near Constantinople and also at the Metropolis of Bursa despite access only to extremely limited resources. He has strong academic credentials and recognition, being a fulltime professor at the Theological School of the University of Thessaloniki.

It is widely known to all that he assumes the Archpastorship of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America when it is in an extremely difficult condition. Its institutions, primarily the Holy Cross School of Theology, need to be reorganized  and rebuilt from their foundations.

That is why the eyes, the hearts, and the hopes of the Community are turned on him, expecting him to establish new methods and strategies, to embrace our faithful and proud People, and to proceed through synergy with “the building of the Body of Christ,” the Church.

If we look closely at all he has done as Metropolitan of Bursa and Abbot at the Holy Trinity Monastery of Halki, then we can expect miracles in this United States of America, the most important eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the contemporary World.

Time is of the essence, and unity, cooperation, and support are needed. There is no room for any kind of failure and I am saying as loudly as possible that Archbishop Elpidophoros is the last hope for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. It is as simple as that.

It was a very wise, prudent, and well-considered recommendation of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the Holy Synod to elect Elpidophoros as Archbishop of America.

And, by the way, all the three recent elections of new Archbishops for America, Australia, and Thyatira and Great Britain of Elpidophoros, Makarios, and Nikitas, respectively, were certainly well thought out and wise. They belong to the new generation of hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne, bringing good education, foreign language fluency, good experience, and wide horizons to their sees. They are tireless workers and are dedicated to the high and essential issues of our Church and Genos. They will contribute much to the archdioceses of the Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

One more thing – it was also a correct and prudent decision of Patriarch Bartholomew to elevate the Metropolis of Toronto to the Archdiocese of Canada and consequently, to elevate Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto to Archbishop of Canada in recognition of the serious and substantial work that has been done in Canada. Thus the Archdioceses under the Ecumenical Patriarchate today are four.

I am sure that Archbishop Elpidophoros of America will take the initiative for the establishment of close communication and cooperation with Archbishops Makarios of Australia, Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain, and Sotirios of Canada, in order to strengthen the ties of the Greek-Orthodoxy throughout the World.
Πηγή: ΕΘΝΙΚΟΣ ΚΗΡΥΞ