Archbishop Elpidophoros Celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Brooklyn Cathedral on the Occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the Birth of Its Rector, Protopresbyter Olexander Belya

On September 6, the 14th Sunday after Pentecost, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Brooklyn, New York, was visited by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

On this day, the cathedral hosted celebrations marking the 70th birthday of its rector and spiritual father of the Slavic Orthodox Vicariate of America, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Olexander Belya.

Archbishop Elpidophoros presided over the Divine Liturgy. Concelebrating with him were His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos, His Grace Bishop Nektarios of Diokleia, Archimandrite Alexander Belya, Vicar of the Slavic Orthodox Vicariate of America, Bishop-elect of Nicopolis; Protopresbyter Olexander Belya, rector of the cathedral; Archpriests Borys Babeshko, Ivan Voloshchuk, Igor Tarasov, Vasyl Deiak, Rostislav Zadorozhnyy, Petr Prakaptsou, Maksim Pliskou; Hegumen Tikhon Gaifudinov; the guest of the celebration, Father Anatoly; Archdeacon Dionysios Papiris; and Protodeacon Volodymyr Oliynyk.

The service was celebrated in three languages—Church Slavonic, English, and Greek. The Gospel and the Epistle were read in Church Slavonic and English. The solemn atmosphere of the service was enhanced by the beautiful singing of the cathedral choir and the large number of parishioners in attendance.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Elpidophoros addressed those gathered and warmly congratulated Protopresbyter Olexander Belya on his 70th birthday.

In his congratulatory remarks, Archbishop Elpidophoros said, in part:

“The attaining of this venerable age is accompanied by much more than grey hair and some wisdom lines on the face. It is truly a number of special significance in the Holy Scriptures. For seventy is the combination of two sacred numbers: seven and ten through multiplication.

We hear the number “Seven” from the very beginning of the Bible – the Seven Days of Creation in Genesis, to the very end – the Book of Revelation, where Seven is the number of the Churches and the Spirits of God. It is even the number of the first Deacons in the Book of Acts.

And the number “Ten” seems even more obvious in some ways. We speak of the Ten Commandments, the Ten days that separate the Ascension from Holy Pentecost, and the fact that “Ten” appears again and again in parables of the Lord (like the Parable of the Virgins).

Therefore, Father Olexander:

Having attained this wondrous combination, know that we shall all expect from you even more of the signs and characteristics that this blesséd age invokes.”

In recognition of Protopresbyter Olexander Belya’s many years of pastoral service, Archbishop Elpidophoros presented him with the highest distinction of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America—the Medal of Saint Paul.

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros also presented Father Olexander with an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “The All-Tsaritsa” (Pantanassa).

Protopresbyter Olexander Belya thanked Archbishop Elpidophoros for his attention, for visiting the cathedral, for their shared prayer, and for celebrating the Divine Liturgy, as well as for the high honor bestowed upon him.

Vicar Archimandrite Alexander read a congratulatory address to Protopresbyter Olexander on behalf of the entire Slavic Vicariate. On the eve of the celebration, Archimandrite Alexander presented the jubilarian with a gold-colored embroidered vestment, which the rector wore while serving the Divine Liturgy that day.

Archimandrite Alexander expressed his gratitude to Archbishop Elpidophoros for visiting the cathedral and participating in the jubilee celebration and presented him with an icon of Saints Cyril and Methodius, the patrons of the Vicariate.

At the conclusion of the service, the numerous parishioners warmly congratulated their rector on his 70th birthday, wishing him good health, spiritual strength, and God’s help in his continued pastoral ministry.

Following the service, a festive banquet was held, during which the clergy and parishioners continued the jubilee celebration.