A Patriarchal Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Sunday at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in New York City, officiated by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, on the eighth day of his Apostolic tour of the eastern United States.
During the service, Archimandrite Christoforos Economides was granted the offikion of Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne, in recognition of his contribution to the Church and his spiritual work. Additionally, dozens of elected members of the Greek Diaspora in North America were granted the title of the Archon Offikialios of the Great Church of Christ.
In addressing the new Archons, His All-Holiness noted that “…you too are from this moment appointed guardians of the sacred traditions of our Church and the noble values of our Nation. In your person, you combine piety and nobility, modesty and creativity, an ecclesiastical attitude and spirit of service, loyalty to Tradition and a spirit of modernity by offering so much to society, economy, science, progress and civilization. We are certain that this honor bestowed upon you today by the Ecumenical Patriarchate will release within you renewed energy to support fresh activities.”
