HOLY AND GREAT COUNCIL DOCUMENT

Draft Synodical Document

Παρασκευή 23 Αυγούστου 2019

METROPOLITAN JOSEPH WELCOMES ARCHBISHOP ELPIDOPHOROS TO ARCHDIOCESAN HEADQUARTERS

Fr. Thomas Zain

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.

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 lunc​h 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