Clergy of Slavic Vicariate Congratulate Archbishop Elpidophoros on his Nameday

On November 2, the Church celebrates the memory of the 4th century martyrs of Persia: SS Akindinos, Pegasias, Anempodistos, Elpidophoros and Afthonios.

It is therefore the feastday of the Patron Saint of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros.  On November 5, the Archbishop led the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Flushing, New York.  His hierarchical concelebrants were Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey, Bishop Joachim of Amissos, Bishop Spyridon of Amastris, Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos, Vicar of the Slavic Orthodox Vicariate Bishop-elect Alexander of Nicopolis, Chancellor Archimandrite Nektarios Papazafiropoulos, and other clergymen of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.  Archpriest Rostislav Zadorozhnyy, Rector of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Red Bank, New Jersey also took part in the service as a representative of the Slavic Orthodox Vicariate. 

The liturgy was conducted in Church Slavonic as well as Greek and English in honor of the guests from the Vicariate.  Archimandrite Alexander chanted the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed and Archpriest Rostislav the Lord’s Prayer “Our Father” in Slavonic.

At the end of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Apostolos delivered a congratulatory speech on behalf of the clergy.  At the nameday trapeza (dinner) that followed, Bishop-elect Alexander congratulated the Archbishop Elpidophoros on his patron saint’s feast day on behalf of the clergy and laity of the Slavic Orthodox Vicariate. He wished His Eminence God’s help as well as that of  St. Elpidophoros in his leadership of the Greek Archdiocese of America.  His Grace also thanked Archbishop Elpidophoros for the support and paternal guidance provided to the Slavic Vicariate. He wished that God would grant His Eminence many prosperous years.  According to the Slavic tradition, Archimandrite Alexander presented His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros with a bouquet of flowers and an elegant Panagia with the image of Blessed Virgin Mary dedicated to the Feast of the Entry of Holy Theotokos to the Temple, celebrated later in November.

God Grant His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros many  prosperous years!