The Vicar congratulated Archbishop Elpidophoros on His Name Day

On November 2, according to the New Julian Calendar, the Church commemorates the memory of the Holy Martyrs Acindynus, Pegasius, Aphthonius, Elpidephorus, and Anempodistus of Persia, along with the 7,000 saints who suffered with them in the 4th century.

On this day, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, prayerfully commemorated his Patron Saint by celebrating the Divine Liturgy at Saint Michael the Archangel Church in Port Washington, New York.

He was co-served by Metropolitan Sebastian of Atlanta, Metropolitan Joseph of Buenos Aires, Metropolitan Neofitos of Eldoret and Northern Kenya (Alexandrian Patriarchate), Bishop Joachim of  Amissos, Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos, Bishop Nektarios of Diokleia, and the clergy of the Greek Archdiocese. Elder Archbishop Demetrios Trakatellis was also present in prayer.

At the personal invitation of Archbishop Elpidophoros, clergy from the Slavic Orthodox Vicariate participated: Archimandrite Alexander Belya, Vicar and Rector of the Cathedral of St. Matrona of Moscow in Miami, Florida, and Bishop-elect of Nicopolis; and Archpriest Rostislav Zadorozhny, Rector of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Church in Red Bank, New Jersey.

During the Liturgy, Archbishop Elpidophoros ordained Gregory Gatanas to the holy diaconate.

Nearly 500 faithful gathered beneath the majestic vaults of the church, the majority of whom received Holy Communion.

Following the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence accepted congratulations on his Name Day. Metropolitan Sebastian spoke on behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod, and Bishop Nektarios on behalf of the clergy and laity of the Archdiocese.

In his address, Archimandrite Alexander noted that the Slavic Orthodox Vicariate recently marked its sixth anniversary and continues to grow under the wise pastoral care of Archbishop Elpidophoros. The Vicar expressed particular joy at praying and serving the unifying Divine Liturgy alongside such a full assembly of hierarchs and clergy. On behalf of the clergy and faithful of the Vicariate, he presented His Eminence with a panagia bearing the icon of the Kazan Mother of God — one of the most venerated wonderworking icons among Slavic peoples — and invoked the intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos in his archpastoral ministry.

His Eminence was also warmly greeted by the parish rector, Protopresbyter John K. Lardas, the parish council, and the Sunday school children.