"Archbishop of Greece Ieronymos Concludes American Visit"

New York – Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, who concluded on Wednesday his seven-day visit to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, was received with love and respect by New York’s Greek Community. Organizations and school students of parishes he visited submitted to His Beatitude donations that they collected, as a gesture of solidarity to the suffering people of Greece. The Church of Greece through its philanthropic networks supports food banks feeding thousands of people.

Archbishop Ieronymos has been invited by Archbishop Demetrios and the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston to receive an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Theology. The Archiepiscopal party, accompanying His Beatitude in America were: His Eminence Metropolitan of Messinia Chrysostomos, His Grace Bishop Gavriel of Diavleia, Rev. Protopresbyter Adamantios Avgoustidis, Rev. Protopresbyter Stefanos Avramidis, Rev. Deacon Epiphanios Arvanitis and Police Lieutenant Mr. Demetrios Karanasos.

On Wednesday, before departing for Greece, His Beatitude, with Archbishop Demetrios and his entourage visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They were received and guided through the tour by Ms. Brandie Ratliff, Research Associate with the Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters. Ms. Ratliff led the tour through the Mary and Michael Jaharis Galleries of Byzantine Art and answered questions for the Archbishop and the other visitors. The tour continued with Ms. Kiki Karglou to the impressive main gallery of the Museum, the Mary and Michael Jaharis Gallery of Greek and Roman Art. Archbishop Ieronymos, who holds a degree in Archaeology, said, he was very impressed by some of the exhibits, the Museum in general and the Jaharis Galleries in particular.

IN BROOKLYN

The community of Saints Constantine and Helen in Brooklyn, NY observed three celebrations on Tuesday. The feast day of the their church, the 100th anniversary of its founding, and the welcoming for the first time, of the Primate of the Church of Greece who visited and co-celebrated an Archieratical Divine Liturgy.

When he arrived at the parish, Archbishop Ieronymos was met by children who greeted him in fluent Greek and offered flowers. It was a moving scene and experience that was repeated many times. His Beatitude took the time to greet each child individually as well as each parent and teacher at the entrance of the church.

The archieratical Divine Liturgy was co-celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America and the Hierarchs of the delegation which included Archbishop Ieronymos, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Messinia, Bishop Gavriel of Diavleia, the Bishops of the Holy Archdiocese of America, Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, Bishop Sevastianos of Zela, and the Proistamenos of the church, Father John Lardas. In attendance at the service was the Consul General of Greece in New York, Mr. Evangelos Kirakopoulos and the Consul General of Cyprus, Koula Sofianou.

“Our words are unable to express the tremendous honor it is to have Your Beatitude with us,” said Archbishop Demetrios introducing Archbishop Ieronymos to the congregation.

In his sermon Archbishop Ieronymos spoke about the life of St. Constantine and of the Apostle Paul and their transformation and repentance (metanoia), emphasizing that their repentance was characterized by a change in their way of thinking and behavior. His Beatitude said this is precisely what is needed in Greece and Cyprus to overcome the crisis they are in. He also added: “Our presence here gave us great strength, and this strength we will try to take with us back home, and transplant it back in Greece. We have common roots and we should all together try to feed them, water them, cultivate them and strengthen these roots.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Archbishop Ieronymos gifted to the Sts. Contstantine and Helen Cathedral a blessing cross, in memory of the day and the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. A representative of the Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz presented to the Archbishop a symbolic gift of a miniature of the Brooklyn Bridge, as a memory of his presence in Brooklyn. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios announced a surprise, the elevation of the parish Proistamenos Fr. John Lardas, to the rank of Protopresbyter, and Archbishop Ieronymos presided at the short service. His Beatitude greeted all the faithful, as they approached with order and reverence to receive the antidoron from his hands. A festive luncheon followed in the community’s center.

The parish council submitted to Archbishop Ieronymos a donation of $10,000 for his philanthropic activities.

IN GROUND ZERO

In the afternoon, the two ecclesiastical leaders, their entourage, and members of the Sts Constantine and Helen community traveled to Ground Zero to see the future site of St. Nicholas. Steven Plate, the director of the WTC Construction and his associates led a tour to the WTC-1 Tower (formerly known as Freedom Tower). Mr. Plate explained to Archbishop Ieronymos the history and geography of the World Trade Center site and the projects under way, including the rebuilding of St. Nicholas which was destroyed on September 11, 2001. Having a birds-eye view, His Beatitude could see the memorial, the footprints of the fallen towers and the location where St. Nicholas will soon rise again. His Beatitude prayed for the victims of 9/11 in a short memorial service on the 26th floor of WTC-1, and later responding to a request by Mr. Plate, he signed one of the building’s interior walls.

IN ASTORIA

Monday morning Ieronymos visited the headquarters of the Holy Archdiocese of America and officiated at a Doxology in the Archdiocesan Chapel of St. Paul.  Present for the visit and service were diplomatic representatives of Greece and Cyprus, and clergy, leaders, and staff of the Archdiocese.

“We have received a Hierarch, who with love that has no limits, has applied in full the teachings of the Apostle Paul as a witness of the Orthodox faith and of love,” stated His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America in welcoming the head of the Church of Greece to the Archdiocese.

His Beatitude stated that he was deeply moved by his reception and experience in America, and he spoke of the mission of the Church in today’s world, especially given the current circumstances in Greece.  He stressed that in the face of difficult and unfavorable circumstances we must not be pessimistic.  He added that he knows very well the bitterness the people of Greece feel as well as the unexpected and inappropriate conduct of Greece’s partners in the European Union, saying that the great and strong ones sometimes make mistakes as well. “All of us together will do our duty, and God will give us His help to overcome all of these things,” he concluded.

At the conclusion of the service, Archbishop Ieronymos greeted each member of the staff of the Archdiocese and gave his blessing to all.

Just before noon, His Beatitude, accompanied by Archbishop Demetrios and the Hierarchs and clergy of his delegation, visited the community of St. Demetrios in Astoria. He was greeted by the Proistamenos, the Very Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios Papazafiropoulos, and the clergy of the Church, the parish council, members of the school board, and teachers and students of the School of St. Demetrios who presented him with flowers.

The children collected $5,000 amongst themselves and offered the money to Archbishop Ieronymos, with the request to be given to the Greek children.

First, the Archbishop prayed in the Church, and everyone chanted the apolytikion of Saint Demetrios. Following, he toured the School, which includes an elementary and secondary school, and is the only Greek American high school in America. In honor of Archbishop Ieronymos, the students presented a program of songs and traditional dances, which impressed His Beatitude and the members of the delegation.

“Now I understand why you insisted on visiting this garden filled with so many flowers,” said His Beatitude to Archbishop Demetrios; and as he began his message to the children he thanked the Archbishop for including the visit to the School in the program.

“We have come to a community, to a school, and we are deeply moved and delighted.  I will return to Greece, more Greek and a stronger Orthodox Christian, with greater optimism, greater hope, and with the assurance that all challenges will be overcome,” His Beatitude told reporters as he departed from the School.  In answer to a question by a reporter he also stated, “As long as there is the Church, and the Omogenia rallies around the Church, and stays as part of the Church, then we do not have to fear the future. Our ancestors, wherever they went, where they migrated since ancient times, they would first build their altar, their church and they would establish their lives around it.  Therefore, I believe that as long as we are united and we are struggling within the community of the Church, the future will be better.”

Following the visit to St. Demetrios, Archbishop Ieronymos, Archbishop Demetrios and the members of the delegation attended a dinner in honor of His Beatitude hosted by the Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations, Ambassador Michael Spinellis.

AT THE CATHEDRAL

On Sunday Ieronymos arrived at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan for a hierarchical concelebration of the Divine Liturgy. Young students in traditional costumes welcomed him with flower bouquets in their arms.

The Primate of the Church of Greece presided over the Liturgy and His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America concelebrated along with the two hierarchs from Greece who accompany His Beatitude, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Messinia, and Bishop Gavriel of Diavleia and clergy from the Archdiocese of Athens and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. The Divine Liturgy was broadcast live by satellite through various outlets around the world, in Greece, the United States, Canada, Australia and in some European countries.

Shortly before the dismissal, Archbishop Demetrios presented His Beatitude to the congregation and highlighted his long pastoral and philanthropic ministry, especially in the last few years, since Greece entered a harsh economic crisis. “You are heroically fighting an uphill fight, offering a great ministry, feeding daily and unceasingly for almost three years now, thousands of people in need”, said Archbishop Demetrios and asked the visiting hierarch to offer to the congregation the word of God.

Archbishop Ieronymos, first thanked His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Demetrios for his invitation to visit and be honored by Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology, visit New York, and have the opportunity to see and marvel at the strong and vibrant Greek Orthodox Community and its witness of Orthodoxy and Hellenism. Archbishop Ieronymos, in his sermon, about the gospel of the Myrrh Bearers, talked about the lost hope of Christ’s disciples and later the renewal and hope that come from the Resurrection of our Lord. He also said, that he feels pride and admires the young people he met at the Holy Cross School of Theology and elsewhere, because they gave him hope for the future of our people, no matter where they happen to be. “We are the kind of people who are builders, no matter where we go,” he said. At another point, His Beatitude talking about the sanctity of the Church, said that our future and continuation depends upon the preservation and continuation of this sacred space where the Divine Liturgy takes place  and that if our faith diminishes, if our Greek Orthodox traditions fade then we should know that will loose everything, including our history and memory.

After the service dismissal, Archbishop Demetrios presented to Archbishop Ieronymos an archieratical engolpion with the image of Saint Paul, the founder of the Church of Greece, made in micro mosaic art. He also presented the Archbishop of Athens with a check of one hundred thousand dollars especially for the social welfare work he does in support of children in need.

In the evening, the Cathedral became the venue for a concert in honor of His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, titled “He is Risen!” The concert consisted of selections performed in two parts: the first by the Archdiocesan Youth Choir and the second by the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir. Archbishop Ieronymos stated, he was very impressed by the performances of both choirs and said it was music he did not expect to hear in New York. The program was organized by Archdeacon Panteleimon Papadopoulos, the director of the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music.

greeknewsonline.com