Archbishop Demetrios Receives Warm Welcome On First Official Visit To Greece
Athens, Greece - His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, received a warm and enthusiastic welcome on his first official visit to Greece since his enthronement as Archbishop of America on September 19,1999. The Government of Greece issued the invitation to honor Archbishop Demetrios, and through him the Greek American community.
The Archbishop and his official party arrived in Athens on Saturday, January 12 and were welcomed by the Secretary General of Hellenes Abroad Mr. Dimitris Dolis, Ambassador John Karakasis Director of the Office of Religion and Church Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives of His Beatitude Christodoulos, the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, and other government officials.
The visit, which began Saturday evening with a meeting with Archbishop Christodoulos at the Archdiocese of Athens, received extensive and positive reaction from the Greek media. His Eminence gave a press conference upon his arrival, met with the press following each official function and scheduled several television, radio and newspaper interviews. The focus was generally been on the tragedy of September 11th and the positive, human response not only by all Americans but specifically the Greek American community that has lost at least 25 people. His Eminence also offered in his comments and official speeches, a picture of the Greek American community in America, as a community of faith, of worship, of Greek traditions and customs, with the Church as its center. He said, "we have come to Greece to tell you who we are, and to ask how we can we help you to maintain and strengthen Orthodoxy and our Hellenic culture and heritage throughout the world."
Historic Liturgy Celebrated at Cathedral of Athens
Thirty-five years following his ordination as bishop in the Cathedral of Athens, His Eminence returned as Archbishop of America to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, assisted by hierarchs, priests and deacons of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese: Metropolitan Iakovos of Krinis, Presiding Hierarch of the Diocese of Chicago; Bishop Nicholas of Detroit; Father Nicholas Bacalis, president of the Archdiocesan Presbyters Council; Father Alexander Karloutsos, Executive Director of Leadership 100 and Deacon Nektarios Morrow and Deacon Panteleimon Papadopoulos, Deacons to the Archbishop.
The magnificent Liturgy, in a packed Cathedral, was broadcast live by ERT throughout Greece. In his emotional sermon, His Eminence transfixed the congregation with a detailed description and anecdotal details of the tragedy of September 11 and its effect on the entire community. Following the Liturgy, His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos hosted a luncheon in honor of His Eminence.
The following day, Monday, January 14th, began with a visit to Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who had just returned from an official visit to the White House with President Bush. Prior to his visit to Washington, the Prime Minister met with the Archbishop at the Archdiocese and they then
went together to Ground Zero. They had an opportunity to continue their discussion on the relationship between Greece and the Greek American community. Immediately following, His Eminence and the entire party proceeded to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where, in a solemn ceremony, the Archbishop placed a wreath at the Tomb, followed by the national anthem played by the Army band.
A meeting then followed with the President of Parliament Mr. Apostolos Kaklamanis, who expressed the great sympathy of the people of Greece for the tragedy of September 11th and announced that the Parliament had agreed to make a contribution to the Archdiocese September 11th Relief Fund, specifically for the families of the victims. Subsequently, on Tuesday, January 15th, the presentation of a check for $300,000 Euro (approximately $260,000) was made to Archbishop Demetrios by Mr. Kaklamanis at a Special Session in the Parliament of the Committee of Hellenism Abroad of the Greek Parliament.
Following the meeting with Mr. Kaklamanis, a meeting was held with the Foreign Minister of Greece George Papandreou. Members of the party had an opportunity to discuss Greek/Greek American issues with Mr. Papandreou and specifically ways of combating the perception that some Greeks are anti-American, and the recent 60 Minutes report, which all had agreed had presented a biased and false reporting of the facts. Both Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Simitis reported that President Bush, in fact, had thanked them, for the support of the Greek Government following September 11th. Mr. Papandreou said that he would be most appreciative of advice and assistance from His Eminence and members of the delegation. Mr. Papandreou then hosted a luncheon in honor of His Eminence.
That evening the Parliamentary Committee for Hellenism Abroad, led by President Grigorios Niotis, hosted a dinner for the delegation. The following day, His Eminence addressed the Committee in the Parliament on Orthodoxy in America and the world, followed by comments by Mr. Niotis and several members of the committee. Archbishop Demetrios and the delegation then left for the Presidential Palace and a meeting and luncheon hosted by the President of the Republic Costis Stephanopoulos.
In addition to the aforementioned hierarchs and clergy, the delegation included: Mr. Michael Jaharis, vice chairman of the Archdiocesan Council and Mrs. Mary Jaharis; Mr. Alexander Spanos, President of Spanos Companies; Dr, Nicholas Madias, Executive Academic Dean, School of Medicine, Tufts University; Mr. Andrew Athens, president of SAE; Mrs. Eleni Huszagh, president of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA and member of the Archdiocesan Council; Dr. George Pilitsis, Director of the Department of Greek Education; Mrs. Alice Keurian, Director of the Office of the Archbishop; Mrs. Nikki Stephanopoulos, Director of News and Information/Public Affairs and English Press Officer of the Archdiocese and Mr. Stavros Papagermanos, Director and Managing Editor of the "Orthodox Observer" and Greek Press Officer.
Bishop-Elect Savas Zembillas To Be Ordinated At Holy Trinity Cathedral
NEW YORK, NY- His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, assisted by several hierarchs, will ordain the V. Rev. Archimandrite Savas Zembillas, Chancellor of the Archdiocese, to the episcopacy as Bishop of Troas, on Saturday, February 2, 2002, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Jesus Christ, at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, 319 East 74th Street, New York City.
On December 11, 2001, Archimandrite Savas was one of three clergymen of the Archdiocese of America elected as Auxiliary Bishops to Archbishop Demetrios by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, upon the recommendation of the Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of America. He will be the first Greek Orthodox Bishop ordained in America since Archbishop Demetrios' enthronement in September 1999.
Assisting Archbishop Demetrios during the ordination will be Archbishop Iakovos, Former Archbishop of North and South America; Metropolitan Maximos of Aenos, Presiding Hierarch of the Diocese of Pittsburgh; Bishop Alexios of Atlanta, and Bishop Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia. The Orthros will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the Ordination, followed by the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, at 10:00 a.m. His Grace Bishop Savas will serve as an Auxiliary Bishop to Archbishop Demetrios and continue as Chancellor of the Archdiocese.
Bishop-elect Savas was born on June 11, 1957, in Gary, Indiana. He is the second of six children of Skevofylax and Stamatia Zembillas, of Kalymnian and Cypriot descent. After graduating in 1979 with a BA degree in Philosophy and English literature from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, he worked for a year as a manager of a coffee company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, before leaving for Europe in 1981 to test his monastic vocation. He spent all of that year in various monastic communities in Greece and England, including several on the Holy Mountain of Athos, Patmos and Kalymnos.
Returning to America in 1982, Savas was accepted in the Master of Divinity program at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. During his three years at the Seminary, he served as assistant to the late Savas J. Savas, Professor of Byzantine Music, and studied the Book of Psalms under the then Bishop of Vresthena, Demetrios Trakatellis, the future Archbishop of America.
After graduating from the Seminary with highest honors in May 1985, Savas began a program of doctoral studies at Pembroke College, University of Oxford, England. Under the academic supervision of Bishop Kallistos Ware, renowned author of The Orthodox Church and The Orthodox Way and translator of The Philokalia, Savas spent the next seven years studying and translating the correspondence of Saints Barsanuphios the Great and John the Prophet, two monks of early sixth-century Gaza who left behind an enormous archive of invaluable and influential letters of spiritual direction in response.
Following his ordination to the Holy Diaconate by then-Bishop Iakovos of Chicago, Savas returned to England, where he served as Deacon to Bishop Kallistos. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop Iakovos of Chicago on January 8, 1995, in Merrillville, Indiana, and returned to the Seminary later that month. In September 1995, he was appointed Proistamenos of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In November 1996, Father Savas was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite at the Monastery of Saint Gregory Palamas in Hayesville, Ohio, by Metropolitan Maximos of Aenos, Presiding Hierarch of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, then locum tenens of the Diocese of Detroit. In September 1997, Archbishop Spyridon of America assigned Archimandrite Savas to Saint Demetrios Church in Merrick, Long Island. In December 1999, shortly after his enthronement, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios appointed Archimandrite Savas as Chancellor of the Archdiocese.
|
 |
Applications Available for Gioles Scholarships
Applications are now available for scholarships to be awarded from the George and Naouma (Gioule) Gioles Scholarship Fund of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The Gioles Scholarship Fund was established in 1997 with a generous gift in memory of George and Naouma Gioles. At least three scholarships of $1500.00 each will be awarded for the 2002-03 academic year. Selection of the recipients will be based on the following criteria:
-- Recipients must be of the Greek Orthodox faith (with preference to those of Greek descent) and must be high school seniors at time of application or full-time matriculated students committed to serious study in an undergraduate degree program at an accredited college or university.
-- Recipients must plan to attend or plan on continuing their studies at the college or university of their choice in the next academic year.
-- Recipients must provide required evidence to the Scholarship Committee of scholastic standing, including transcript records with a grade level of at least a B, 85 percent or 3.0 average.
-- Recipients who are high school seniors must have achieved and must provide proof of a combined SAT score of 1,000 minimum. If the SAT is not administered, another measure used by the academic community should be substituted.
-- Recipients must submit an application to the Scholarship Committee and be available for an interview at the Committee's discretion.
-- Recipients must provide evidence of financial need. Preference will be given to candidates who are orphans and to those who are undertaking studies in the sciences, business and the arts, with one scholarship reserved for a candidate who has chosen to study journalism.
-- Applications may be requested from the Office of the Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese by calling (212) 570-3513 or by written request.
Requests and completed applications should be sent to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America ? Office of the Chancellor ? c/o Gioles Scholarship Fund, 8 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10021. The deadline for applications is April 15.
Bishops-Elect Michaleas and Paropoulos To Be Ordained In February
Bishop-elect Gerasimos Michaleas, for many years the Archdeacon and Assistant to the President of Hellenic College/Holy Cross, and recently appointed Chief Secretary of the Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of America, will be ordained to the Priesthood by Metropolitan Methodios of Aneon on Saturday, February 2, 2002, at the Holy Cross Chapel in Brookline, Massachusetts, and to the episcopacy as Bishop of Krateia on Saturday, February 9, at the Annunciation Cathedral in Boston by Archbishop Demetrios, Archbishop Iakovos, Metropolitan Methodios, and other members of the Synod.
On Saturday, February 23rd, Bishop-elect Andonios Paropoulos, Director of Saint Michael's Home for the Aged and of the newly created Archdiocesan Department of Philanthropy, will be ordained Bishop of Phasiane at Holy Trinity Cathedral in New York City, by Archbishop Demetrios, Archbishop Iakovos, and other Hierarchs of the Synod.
September 11th Relief Fund
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese
8 East 79th Street
New York, NY 10021
Relief Hotline: 877-774-0217
Volunteer/Contribution
Line: 212-570-3595
|
Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for the Feast of Saint Photios and Saint Photios National Shrine Day
To the Most Reverend Hierarchs, the Reverend Priests and Deacons, the Monks and Nuns, the Presidents and Members of the Parish Councils of the Greek Orthodox Communities, the Day and Afternoon Schools, the Philoptochos
Sisterhoods, the Youth, the Hellenic Organizations, and the entire Greek Orthodox Family in America:
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
When the first Greek immigrants to America arrived in Saint Augustine, Florida in June of 1768, they disembarked from the ships that had carried them from their homeland and entered what they had hoped would be a "new world", a land that offered freedom from tyranny as well as tremendous opportunities for prosperity. Eventually, some would have their dreams fulfilled, but just as many of the early settlers in this country, they suffered hardships, deprivation, and even death. For almost ten years these forbearers lived as indentured servants, struggling under harsh working conditions, without adequate provisions, and in constant peril of disease. When they were liberated from their servitude and granted land and resources, they became successful members of the community, having among them farmers, storekeepers, mariners, ship owners, and teachers.
Certainly, for each of us, the story of these early immigrants is important due to our ethnic and religious identity and the contribution this has made to the founding and growth of the American nation. But it is also significant in that this small portion of history reflects the experiences of tens of thousands of Greeks who have come and settled here over the last two centuries. Many came, endured immense hardships, and labored tirelessly so that they, their children, and their descendants would have the freedom, security, resources, institutions, and quality of life that they hoped for and cherished.
Acknowledgment of this history and these experiences is the primary function of our beloved Saint Photios Shrine in Saint Augustine. With the Shrine and its museum and chapel we have both the geographic connection with the first Greek immigrants and a continuous, active witness of the faith, culture, and history of Greek-Americans. Further, the program and resources of the Shrine are being expanded to assist our Archdiocese and our parishes in offering this heritage to the faithful and to contemporary America.
Therefore, in support of this vital work the parishes of our Archdiocese are asked to take a special collection on Sunday, February 3, with the proceeds to be sent to the Shrine. Our parishes are also encouraged to make use of the resources that our Shrine has to offer so that all may know our history, our experience, and most importantly, our faith.
May you find strength in the presence of our Lord, joy in His blessings, and purpose in His call to share love and truth with others.
With paternal love in Christ,
+DEMETRIOS Archbishop of America
More Archdiocese News
|
