New Rochelle was well represented at the enthronement of our new Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. AXIOS!
The Feast Day of our Parish - a magnificent day, highlighted with a pastoral visitation by Bishop Andonios, the Vesper service of Pentecost and our annual Panygiri Picnic for all of our parishioners. Music was provided by Michael Zoulis and his Orchestra. Many, many thanks to the Modroukas family for cooking and donating the delicious food enjoyed by all!
Five Parish Council members will represent Holy Trinity at the Enthronement ceremony of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America on June 22nd at the Archdiocesan Cathedral in NYC.
They were chosen to serve as Ushers together with members from several parishes from our District. Attending the strategy meeting at the Cathedral on June 10th were: Dino Yotides, Despina Kartson, George Kourakos, Ron Nicholas, and George Kondos. Fr. Nick is also part of the Enthronement Committee.
Deacon Simon Menya addressed our community this morning at outlined his future ministry within the Orthodox Church of Uganda, including his own ordination to the priesthood next month. He was presented with checks on behalf of our Ladies Philoptochos Society, Ahepa chapter 405 and a personal donation from Presbytera Kay Kyriakos to help him with is task to help grow the Orthodox faith in Africa.
Also, the Oath of Office was administered today by Fr. Nick to the 2019-20 Ladies Philoptochos Board of Directors of our parish. He congratulated outgoing President Marina Sirras for her years of dedicated service to the chapter.
Additionally, Sunday School graduation and recognition to all of the students and teachers of the program was held this morning at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. In addition, members of the Junior Choir and graduating senior altar boys were thanked by Fr. Nick for their participation over the years. Finally, Georgeann Mavrovitis presented a check to the Parish Council for over $5,000, representing final payment for new robes for the Senior Choir. The check was accepted on behalf of the Parish Council by Vice President George Kourakos.
Finally, this extremely beautiful and busy Sunday at church ended with the annual spring concert by the Westchester County Greek Youth Orchestra directed by Thanos Kokkalas.
Holy Trinity, the AHEPA and our Ladies Philoptochos honored our high school, college and grad school graduates this morning following the Divine Liturgy. The annual event was hosted by our own AHEPA chapter. Congratulations to all of our graduates.
Alexandra King received her Cross as she prepared to receive her Master Of Divinity Degree tomorrow (May 19th) from Holy Cross School of Theology.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.
Archbishop Elpidophoros Lampriniadis was born in Istanbul in 1967. He attended the Urban School of Makrochori, Istanbul and completed his basic education in Thessaloniki, Greece. Afterwards, he attended the 1st High School of Kallithea, Athens and he successfully took entrance examinations for the School of Pastoral and Social Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in academic year 1987 – 1988.
In July 1991 he graduated cum laude (8.89) and in September of the same year he was admitted as a graduate student in The School of Byzantine Literature at the University of Bonn in Germany. In October 1993 he completed his postgraduate studies. In April 1994 he was ordained a deacon at the Ecumenical Patriarchate and named “Elpidoforos”. In the same month he was appointed scribe of the Holy and Sacred Synod. From August 1994 until March 1995 he served his military service. During the academic year 1996 - 1997 he was sent, by decision of the Congregation, at the Theological Faculty of St. John of Damascus in Balamand, Lebanon to further improve his knowledge of the Arabic language, where he attended theology classes under Professor Father John Romanides. In December 1995 he was appointed Undersecretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, a position he held until February 2005, when he was promoted to the Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod. He was ordained on the 20th of March 2005 by His All Holiness, Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch and was awarded the title of Archimandrite of the Great Church of Christ.
Concurrently, since 1994 he was a graduate student and PhD candidate at the School of Pastoral and Social Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and in 2001 he submitted his doctoral thesis on “The stand of Severus of Antioch against the Synod of Chalcedon”. The summer semester of 2004 he taught as a visiting professor at the Theological School of the Holy Cross of Boston, USA a class on “The position of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Orthodox Church". Since the 25/1/2011, he has undertaken duties of Associate Professor in the Department of Pastoral and Social Theology at the Theological School of Aristotle University and teaches Symbolics, Interorthodox – InterChristian Relations and Ecumenical Movement. 03/20/2011 Consecration to Bishop of Bursa and from August of 2011 he is the Abbot of the Monastery of Holy Trinity in Halki.
What a blessing to be with His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios during his last hours as Archbishop of America. Fr. Nick and Dino Yotides met with His Eminence in Atlanta, following the Archdiocesan Council meetings, en route to New York. May God grant Archbishop Demetrios many more years!
