On
Thursday, August 22, His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph hosted the newly
elected Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of
America at the headquarters of the Antiochian Archdiocese in Englewood,
New Jersey. Although the two hierarchs have met in the past on a few
occasions, this was the first face-to-face meeting since the new
archbishop was enthroned in June.
Accompanying Archbishop Elpidophoros were Fr. Alexander Karloutsos, Vicar General of the Greek Archdiocese; V. Rev. Archimandrite Vasillios Drosos, Advisor; Ms. Paulette Poulos, Executive Director of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund; Deacon Eleftherios Constantine; and Mr. Nicholas Anton, Director of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.
Accompanying Archbishop Elpidophoros were Fr. Alexander Karloutsos, Vicar General of the Greek Archdiocese; V. Rev. Archimandrite Vasillios Drosos, Advisor; Ms. Paulette Poulos, Executive Director of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund; Deacon Eleftherios Constantine; and Mr. Nicholas Anton, Director of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.
Present from the Antiochian Archdiocese with His
Eminence were His Grace Bishop John of the Diocese of Worcester and New
England; Archpriest Thomas Zain, Vicar General of the Antiochian
Archdiocese; Archpriest Michael Ellias, Secretary of the Archdiocese; Mr. Fawaz El-Khoury, Vice-Chairman of the Archdiocesan Board of Trustees; and former Chancellor, Mr. Charles Ajalat.
After
a prayer of thanksgiving in St. John Chrysostom Chapel, Metropolitan
Joseph and Archbishop Elpidophoros exchanged official greetings. Both
delegations got to know each other and exchanged ideas about how to work
together to advance the common witness of our Orthodox Christian faith
in America. They put forth many ideas for further consideration, and
Their Eminences pledged mutual cooperation.
After the
meeting, both delegations enjoyed a lunch prepared by the archdiocesan
staff. Metropolitan Joseph presented Archbishop Elpidophoros with a
panagia (engolpion) as an enthronement gift. Sayidna Joseph also
presented the Greek Archdiocesan delegation with icons and books about
St. Raphael of Brooklyn. Archbishop Elpidophoros presented Metropolitan
Joseph with a book about the history of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of
Constantinople. Sayidna Joseph welcomed Archbishop Elpidophoros to visit
him again at the headquarters to share thoughts and exchange ideas.
Photos by Deacon John El Massih