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St. Demetrios Church
Publish Date: 2026-09-20
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St. Demetrios Church

General Information

  • Phone:
  • (440) 331-2246
  • Fax:
  • (440) 331-8407
  • Street Address:

  • 22909 Center Ridge Road

  • Rocky River, OH 44116
  • Mailing Address:

  • 22909 Center Ridge Road

  • Rocky River, OH 44116


Contact Information








Services Schedule

Sundays 8:30 a.m. Orthros and 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy

Special weekday feastday services to be announced in the bulletin.


Past Bulletins


Gospel and Epistle Readings

Epistle Reading

Prokeimenon. Grave Mode. Psalm 28.11,1.
The Lord will give strength to his people.
Verse: Bring to the Lord, O sons of God, bring to the Lord honor and glory.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians 2:16-20.

Brethren, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.


Gospel Reading

Sunday after Holy Cross
The Reading is from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1

The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."




Parish Announcements

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY

9/20

8:20; 9:30 a.m.

Orthros; Divine Liturgy; Sunday School

MONDAY

9/21

6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

Movie Monday 

Parish Council meeting

TUESDAY

9/22

5:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Greek School

Temple Builders (Zoom)

WEDNESDAY

9/23

9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

6:00 p.m.

Pickleball  @ Morton Park

Orthodox Book Study

Daughters of Penelope @ Crocker Park

THURSDAY

9/24

10:30 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Prayer Group

Greek School

Greek Parade planning meeting

Choir Practice  / Temple Builders (Zoom)

FRIDAY

9/25

10:30 a.m.

Pickleball  @ Morton Park

SATURDAY

9/26

10:00 a.m.

Eastern Orthodox Women’s Guild @ Parma

 


MEMORIALS

40 days for Katie Skliros, mother of Steven and Peter

 20 years for Manuel Kariotakis, father of Stephanie, Nick, and Anne

Coffee hour hosted by the Skliros family

                        Coming up…10/11: Pyros; Souris      11/29: Gastis


FELLOWSHIP CUP

Anyone that can host a coffee hour on any of the following dates:  Oct. 4, Nov 1 or 22,  please contact Anna ([email protected])


HOUSE BLESSINGS

Have your home or business blessed for the Ecclesiastic New Year (starting Sept.1)   Fr. Andrew will be available throughout September, Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. To schedule an appointment, contact him at [email protected]


MOVIE MONDAY

Sept 21 & 28 at 6 p.m. in the hall. We continue our tribute to our country’s 250th anniversary with  America America  (1963.) A Greek Orthodox man living in the Ottoman Empire of the 1890s, enduring ethnic and religious persecution by the Turks, is desperate to get to America. Academy Award-winning director Elia Kazan based a novel and this English-language movie on the real-life experiences of his uncle. The beautiful soundtrack is by Manos Hadjidakis. We will show this epic film in 2 parts. Free and open to all.


CONTINUING EDUCATION

Registration for all of the following is open in the office .

 

Balourdas Greek School,  Adult Greek Language classes for beginners and/or intermediate levels will also begin in September, based on students’ knowledge. Classes meet at 7 p.m. once a week (Tue or Thu TBA) for the semester. call the office for more details.

 

‘Temple Builders’ Adult Education  Tuesdays & Thursdays at 7 p.m. via Zoom to study the foundation of the Orthodox faith. To register, send your name and email to Beth Patterson, [email protected].  A Zoom link will be sent to you in the morning before each class.

Sept. 22 & 24    “The Bible in the Orthodox Church” with instructor Dina Boyer

Sept. 29 & Oct.1  “Introduction to the Church Fathers”  with instructor Dane Waggoner

Oct. 6 & 8  “Marriage in the Orthodox Church”   with instructor Christina Barajas

The Cathechist: The Art of Listening and Teaching  This Fall, Holy Cross Hellenic College is offering a certification program to prepare the laity the apostolic ministry of teaching. Online 6-week course begins Oct . 5. For info visit https://www.thescriptoriuminitiative.org/the-catechist/. If you are interested in enrolling, please contact Fr. Andrew, [email protected].

EXPANDING THE LIVING PARISH  Free online webinars, Mondays at 8 p.m. Open to all.

Sept 21:  Using the right approach to conflict    

Oct. 19: Welcoming and engaging seekers        

To receive the link go to https://tinyurl.com/385needb


GREEK PARADE PLANNING

Thu., Sept. 24 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room. Representatives from all the Greek clubs welcome to come plan the 2027 Greek Independence parade.


SERVING AT ST. HERMAN'S

Bread of Life next service date: Saturday, Oct 3

Contact  Christina (440) 665-1494 

 

Philoptochos’ next service date: Tuesday, Oct 13                                          

Contact Joanne Harootunian (440) 353-0910.     

 


JOB POSTING

~ Ministry Coordinator  part-time, 20 hours per week. Wage is $20 per hour.

Report to the Priest and be responsible for coordinating activities and events with the Priest, Sunday School Director, Greek School Director, HOPE, JOY, and GOYA Advisors, and Bread of Life Ministry; maintain database of all families involved in youth ministry; Collaborate with the church leadership and staff for special events; Provide content for parish social media presence and publication; Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: Baptized and Chrismated Orthodox Christian, and Parish Member in Good Standing required; time management skills; ability to take direction and anticipate needs of the parish; fluency in English a must; knowledge of Greek language a plus.   Well organized; relentless attention to detail; ability to manage and prioritize routine tasks with little supervision; collaborative and cooperation with all others; flexible, productive, resourceful and committed to excellence. Bachelor’s degree required. Past experience working with children required.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States and pass a background screen. St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church is an equal opportunity employer.           

Please send cover letter and resume to [email protected]


YASSOU FALL LUNCH

Tue., Oct. 20,  11:30 a.m. in the hall. Seniors from St. Demetrios & St. Paul invited. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. RSVP to [email protected]


PHILOPTOCHOS CORNER

As always, fall is a busy time for Philoptochos. We look forward to hosting you at the following events celebrating St Demetrios' feastday:

 Sunday,  October 25, 6:00 p.m.  Vespers, Reception to follow

Monday, October 26, 8:20 a.m. Orthros; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy, followed by St. Demetrios Feast Day Luncheon .   Adults: $18    Children: $10

 Sunday November 8 Holiday Tea at 2:00 pm in the Cultural Hall.

·         A traditional English Tea featuring a presentation by Janet Weir Creighton, Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs,  who will recount the decades of beautiful holiday decorations and ornaments at the White House.   Seating is limited, so purchase your tickets early. $50 

Tickets for the lunch and tea on sale during coffee hours

Happy Fall to All!


EVENTS ELSEWHERE

LAST 2026 GREEK FESTIVAL  Sept. 18-19 Annunciation Church,  129 S. Union St, Akron. 11 am 10 pm. Free admission

 

GREEK PICNICS

Chios Society of Cleveland: Sat., Sept. 19, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at St. Sava Pavilion, 2151 W. Wallings Rd., Broadview Hts. $10/adult; $5/child. Variety of proteins & beverages provided with potluck (last names A-J, please bring a side dish; last names K-Z, please bring a dessert.) RSVP via Sign-up Genius found on the Chios Society Cleveland Chapter 7 Facebook page.

 

Phoenix Greek Pontian Association:  Sat., Sept. 19, at St. Sava Picnic Grove, 2306 W. Ridgewood Dr., Parma. Starting  at 5 p.m. Dancing to  live music and DJ. $25 entrance fee at the door; Kids under 12 free. Food & drink available for sale. Presentation of scholarships.

 

CREPE & CHAT  Wed., Sept 23, at 6 p.m. Daughters of Penelope will meet at Crepes in the City at Crocker Park (west of the roundabout) to plan the coming season and discuss the novel “House of Odysseus.” Purchase sweet or savory crepes while the proprietor Diane Foradis shares her inspirations and challenges. RSVP to Eleni Papouras-Jenks (216-965-8131.)

 

EASTERN ORTHODOX WOMEN’S GUILD Sat., Sept. 26, 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church, 6822 Broadview Rd., Parma. Fellowship, new year blessing, refreshments and door prizes. Learn about the events for this year and assemble IOCC Kid’s School Kits for students affected by war.

PAINT & POUR Thu., Sept 24, 6 p.m. at Market 42, 2099 Pearl Rd., Brunswick. $65 includes painting supplies, instruction, wine, and food, hosted by Annunciation Philoptochos. For tickets, contact Ourania Stefanopoulos (440-390-0894)

ANCIENT PAINTERS AS STORYTELLERS Sun., Sept. 27, 2:00 p.m. at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The  Collis Lecture presents Mark Stansbury-O'Donnell, Professor Emeritus at Univ. of St. Thomas.  FREE tickets: https://ticketing.clevelandart.org/18989/19046?promoapplied=true

CRAFT FAIR Sat., Oct. 3, at St Paul Hellenic Center, 4548 Wallings Rd., N. Royalton. Vendors can still request a booth (8x10’ space + 2 chairs; supply own table) for $75; limited tables for rent at $10; limited spaces with electricity $5.  Contact  [email protected]

MEN WHO COOK Sat., Oct. 3, 5:30-8 p.m. at Sts. Constantine & Helen Cathedral, 3352 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Hts. An evening of delicious food prepared by local cooks showcasing their culinary talents & specialties Taste & vote for your favorites. $35 presale; $40 at the door. Proceeds to benefit Sts. Constantine & Helen Philoptochos.

 HELLENIC DANCE Sat., Oct 3, 7 p.m.-midnight, at the Sterea Hellas Foundation, 7890 Brookside Dr., Olmsted Falls. Music by Karizma. Full cash bar & mezedakia platters. $20 donation; children under 13 free. For tickets, call Nick Tsengas (330-998-8837)

‘LIGHT STREAMS IN’ Sat., Oct. 17, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m., fall retreat at Sts. Constantine & Helen Cathedral, 3352 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland Hts. Keynote speaker is  author & podcaster Elissa Bjeletich Davis on how we can let Christ’s light stream into the world. $15/adult includes breakfast & lunch; free for students. Register at https://pci.jotform.com/form/262124886813159

WONDERFULLY MADE Sat., Oct. 17, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Retreat for the Metropolis of Pittsburgh’s youth & young adults with disabilities. Hosted by Holy Cross Church, 123 Gilkeson Rd., Pittsburgh, PA. For more info, contact Alyssa Kyritsis ([email protected])

HELLENIC HERITAGE & FAITH AWARD Thu., Oct. 22 at Emerald Event Center, 33040 Just Imagine Dr., Avon. 6 p.m. social hour; 7 pm dinner & program. The Greek Garden Association presents its inaugural award  to Archon Carl R. Hollister, Executive Director of St. Photios Shrine. $75/person.

YOUNG ADULT FALL RETREAT Oct. 23-25 at Camp Nazareth in Mercer, PA. For Young Adults (18-35 years of age) led by Fr. Stephen Loposky speaking on “Spiritual Fathers and the Mystery of Confession”    Register at tinyurl.com/smxbprrp

BUCKEYE CLAMBAKE Sat., Nov 7 at St. Nicholas Church, 2000 Tower Blvd., Lorain. Clambake + Watch party for Oregon Ducks vs. OSU. Doors open 90 minutes before kick off. $50 full clambake, $35 chicken dinner; $15 kids’ meal. Cash bar https://square.link/u/Rr98b4xS


ORTHODOX BOOK STUDY

We meet on Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. in the Parish Library. We are starting Everyday Saints and Other Stories by Archimandrite Tikhon. It is available in The Catacomb Bookstore (open Sundays after church and weekdays  during office hours.)

 

 


PRAYER GROUP

Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. in the chapel.

Contact Diakonissa Amy ([email protected] or 330-519-3100) to join, or to submit names for whom we can pray. 


PARISH PICKLEBALL

Wednesdays & Fridays at 9 a.m. We are now playing at Morton Park in Fairview Park, weather permitting. Rain days in the Zapis Activity Center.




Saints and Feasts

September 20

Eustathius the Great Martyr, his wife and two children

The holy Martyr Eustathius before his baptism was an illustrious Roman general named Placidas in the days of the Emperor Trajan. While hunting in the country one day, he was converted to the Faith of Christ through the apparition of an uncommonly majestic stag, between whose antlers he saw the Cross of Christ, and through which the Lord spoke to him with a human voice. Upon returning home, he learned that his wife Tatiana had also had a vision in which she was instructed to become a Christian. They sought out the Bishop of the Christians and were baptized, Placidas receiving the name Eustathius, and Tatiana the name Theopiste; their two sons were baptized Agapius and Theopistus. The family was then subjected to such trials as Job endured. Their servants died, all their goods were stolen, and on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem they were scattered abroad, each not even knowing if the others were still alive. By the providence of God, they were united again after many years, and returned to Rome in glory. Nevertheless, when they refused to sacrifice to the idols-a public sacrifice from which no Roman general could be absent-the Emperor Hadrian, who had succeeded Trajan, had them put into a large bronze device in the shape of a bull, which was heated with fire until they died. When their holy bodies were removed, they were found to be without harm. They suffered martyrdom about the year 126.


September 21

Jonah the Prophet

The Prophet Jonah, the son of Amathi, of the town of Geth-hopher (IV Kings 14:25), was of the tribe of Zabulon; he prophesied during the years 838-810 before Christ. God commanded him to go to Nineveh, the great city of the Assyrians, and to proclaim that its destruction was nigh at hand because of the sins of its people. But he, as a Prophet who knew the great compassion of God, feared that at his preaching the Ninevites would repent; that God, accepting their repentance in His love for man, would not fulfill Jonah' threats; and that he would be branded a false prophet. So he disobeyed the divine command, and boarded a ship and departed elsewhere. Yet, the sudden and fearful sea-storm and the revelation of Jonah' disbedience caused the sailors to cast him into the sea. A great sea-monster appeared straightway by divine providence, and swallowed him up. For three days and nights he was found in its belly and he prayed, saying the words, "I cried aloud in my affliction unto the Lord my God..." (Jonah 2:3, the Sixth ode of the Holy Psalter). The sea-monster then vomited him up on dry land and he again heard God's command. Wherefore, he went and preached, saying, "In three days, Nineveh shall be destroyed." The people became terrified and all repented. The great, the small, babes at the breast, and even the irrational beasts themselves fasted, and thus, having found mercy from God, they were spared His wrath. Jonah' book of prophecy is divided into four chapters, and is placed fifth in order among the twelve minor Prophets. His three-day sojourn in the sea-monster's belly is an image of our Saviour's three-day burial and His life-bringing Resurrection (Matt. 12:39-40). His name means "dove."


September 22

Phocas the Gardener

Saint Phokas (Phokás) came from Sinope (Sinópē) and his only possessions were a garden which he cultivated with great diligence. His income from the garden was very small. But since he was a good steward and frugal in his needs, he would always have something for the poor. Saint Phokas studied the Holy Scriptures with pleasure. He even told those who saw him studying that our soul is also a garden, which requires care, so that it does not produce thorns and thistles. The gardener Phokas also desired that everyone's souls should become spiritual gardens. So wherever he could, he contributed to their purification and cultivation. While he was selling vegetables and fruits, he spoke words of great spiritual profit at the same time. Not only did he benefit Christians, but he also converted many pagans.

At that time, the idolaters were persecuting Christians. Therefore, when it became known that the gardener Phokas was a Christian, the rulers sent soldiers to arrest him. Since the Saint's home was near the castle gate near the port, he often had many visitors; sometimes foreign travelers, and sometimes the poor. So when the soldiers came he welcomed them as guests. After some time , he asked them the purpose of their visit. Obliged by his hospitality they disclosed their secret, that they were seeking the Christian Phokas in order to behead him. They even told him that he would be doing them a great favor if he would help them.

Unperturbed, Saint Phokas came out of his house to dig and prepare his own grave, and the next day he told the soldiers who he was. They were astonished and ashamed, because they had been received by Saint Phokas with so much love that they did not want to kill him. The Saint understood their difficulty and told them not to hesitate, but to carry out their orders since it was not they who would be responsible for his murder, but rather those who sent them. By speaking in this way he persuaded the soldiers to behead him.

Christians built a magnificent church on the site of his beheading, and they placed the honorable relics of the Holy Martyr in it. This became a source of comfort for the afflicted, and healing for the sick. A fragment of the Holy Relics of Saint Phokas is located in the Monastery of Proussos in Evritania.

When his homeland, Sinope, was in danger of famine, wheat was found, thanks to the Saint's protection. He appeared several times to sailors who were in danger of sinking in the sea, and saved them from drowning. At other times he would awaken the helmsman, telling him to be ready, for a storm was coming. Other times he was seen by the sailors in rough seas helping sometimes on the ropes, sometimes on the sails, or sometimes protecting the ship, so that it would not be wrecked on a reef, or be caught in heavy rain.

The custom of having Saint Phokas as a guest at their table was begun among sailors. When they were sitting at the table, one of the sailors bought the Saint's share; the next day another sailor bought it, and so they collected the money. When the ship reached its destination, they distributed the money to the poor.

The Saint worked many miracles of healing. The Holy Martyr Phokas is especially venerated by sailors, and he is also invoked by those who travel by sea.


September 23

New Martyrs Nicholas and John

Both these saints are martyrs of the Turkish Yoke.

Nicholas was born in Karpenisi. At the age of 15, he went to Constantinople and worked in his father's grocery store. His father sent him to learn Turkish from a friend, a barber, who, having colluded with Janissaries, wrote out the Turkish confession of faith. When Nicholas read it, the Janissaries said, "You have become a Turk because you read the confession." They brought him before the judge and forced him to convert. Nicholas told them that the Koran forbids making Turks by force, but they performed circumcision on him by force. 

He shouted, "I am a Christian; why do you bother me? Even if you cut my whole body into pieces, I do not deny my Christ. He whom I believe in, He who invisibly strengthens me." He was imprisoned for two months and beaten. The Turks offered him money, glory, women, etc., but the martyr considered them as shadows and dreams. He said, "I have incorruptible wealth in my heart, my Orthodox faith, and in heaven, an imperishable glory and eternal kingdom. I wish to die for Christ as soon as possible; this is the grace I seek." 

The Turks took him to the place of Tahta-Kale and beheaded him in 1672. For three days and nights, heavenly light shone upon the holy relic. Christians bought it from the Turks and buried it in the monastery of Halki.

John was born to Muslim parents in Konitsa of Albania — the ancient region of Epirus. His father was a prominent ruler among the Muslims and a member of the Sufi order, sometimes called dervishes, a mystical Islamic sect. John himself became a prominent Sufi and settled in Joannina. Though not a Christian, he attended to his conscience and lived a sober and prayerful life.   Over time, he became increasingly attracted to the Christian faith and, in time, asked for holy Baptism. No Christian in his region dared to baptize him, knowing the reprisals that would follow. So John migrated to Ithaka, was baptized, and settled there in a village called Xiromeron, where he married and lived as a simple countryman. In 1813, John's father somehow learned where he was, and that he had become a Christian. He sent two Sufis to bring him back and restore him to the Muslim faith. Because of this, the Ottoman authorities on Ithaka learned who he was and brought him before a judge. To each of the judge's questions John would only reply 'I am a Christian and I am called John.'   Realizing that no amount of persuasion or coercion would move him, the authorities determined to behead him. At his execution, since they would not loose his hands so that he could make the sign of the Cross, John cried out 'Lord, Remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom!' With these words he submitted himself to a Martyr's end. The Turks intended to leave his body for the dogs, but pious Christians retrieved it and secretly gave it honorable burial.


September 24

Thekla the Protomartyr & Equal-to-the-Apostles

This saint was from the city of Iconium. When she was eighteen years of age, she was instructed in the Faith of Christ and the hope of the resurrection by the Apostle Paul, whom also she followed, forsaking her betrothed and espousing a life of virginity for the sake of the Heavenly Bridegroom. Having preached Christ in various cities and suffered many things, she reposed in Seleucia of Cilicia at the age of 90.


September 25

Euphrosyne of Alexandria

Our righteous Mother Euphrosyne, who lived during the reign of Saint Theodosius the Younger (408-450), was the daughter of Paphnutius of Egypt. Forsaking her father and his wealth, she renamed herself Smaragdus, and pretending to be a eunuch of the imperial palace, she dressed herself as a man and entered a monastery of men where her identity remained unknown until her repose thirty-eight years later.


September 26

The Falling Asleep of St. John the Evangelist and Theologian

This Apostle was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and the brother of James the elder. First a fisherman by trade, he became an Apostle and the beloved Disciple of Christ. Only he of all the Disciples followed Him even to the Cross, and was entrusted with the care of our Saviour's Mother, as it were another son to her, and a brother of Christ the Teacher. After this, he preached throughout Asia Minor, especially in Ephesus. When the second persecution against the Christians began in the year 96 during the reign of Domitian, he was taken in bonds to Rome, and there was cast into a vat filled to the brim with boiling oil. Coming forth therefrom unharmed, he was exiled to the island of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. Returning again to Ephesus after the death of the tyrant, he wrote his Gospel (after the other Evangelists had already written theirs) and his three Catholic Epistles. In all, he lived ninety-five years and fell asleep in the Lord during the reign of Trajan in the year 100. He was called Theologian because he loftily expounded in his Gospel the theology of the inexpressible and eternal birth of the Son and Word of God the Father. It is for this cause that an eagle-a symbol of the Holy Spirit, as Saint Irenaeus says-is depicted in his icon, for this was one of the four symbolic living creatures that the Prophet Ezekiel saw (Ezek. 1:10).




Archdiocese News

Archbishop Elpidophoros arrives in Alaska for consecration

09/17/2026

Yesterday, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America arrived in Anchorage, Alaska, where he will preside over the consecration of Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church on Saturday, September 19.

Traveling alongside the Archbishop are His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco; His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos; His Grace Bishop Ioannis of Phocaea; and Dimitri Katsiklis, Master Chanter at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine.

The group was greeted by members of the parish, including Fr. Vasili Hillhouse, Holy Transfiguration Church’s parish priest. In the evening, the church’s parish council shared a welcome dinner with the guests.

Ahead of Saturday’s consecration, the Archbishop will also attend a Founding Families dinner and spend time in the Alaskan landscape, visiting the nearby Portage Glacier.

The post Archbishop Elpidophoros arrives in Alaska for consecration appeared first on Orthodox Observer.


Yesterday, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America arrived in Anchorage, Alaska, where he will preside over the consecration of Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church on Saturday, September 19. Traveling alongside the Archbishop are His Eminence […]

The post Archbishop Elpidophoros arrives in Alaska for consecration appeared first on Orthodox Observer.


Meet the Archdiocesan Cathedral’s new Dean

09/17/2026

With an appointment from His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America to become the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity’s Dean, effective September 1, 2026, Fr. Gregory Gilbert is set to begin a new chapter of ministry in the heart of New York City.

In his first interview since the appointment, Fr. Gregory told the Orthodox Observer he views the new role as “a tremendous honor and great opportunity to do a different kind of ministry,” one that combines the daily life of a parish with the broader responsibilities of an Archdiocesan institution.

His arrival at the Cathedral marks both a transition for the historic parish and the latest chapter in a path that has brought Fr. Gregory through academia, parish ministry, and leadership within the Metropolis of New Jersey. Last Friday, Fr. Gregory met with the Orthodox Observer to reflect on the path that brought him to the Cathedral, the experiences that have shaped him as a priest, and his hopes for the community he will now serve.

> Previously: Fr. Gregory Gilbert appointed Dean of the Archdiocesan Cathedral

Fr. Gregory was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. He attended Davidson College in North Carolina, where he studied Classics, with a focus on Ancient Greek and Latin, and met his future wife, Presvytera Catherine. The couple now has five children. 

After college, Fr. Gregory taught Latin at a private high school in Nashville for three years. It was during this time that he first encountered and embraced the Greek Orthodox faith. As his interest in the Church Fathers and early Christian writings deepened, Fr. Gregory began to question how the Christianity with which he had grown up related to the faith he was now encountering through his study of the early Church. 

As he confronted his dissatisfaction with the church tradition in which he had been raised, Fr. Gregory began attending Orthodox services and felt, “This is it. This is what I need.” He subsequently began his theological studies at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York, where he received his M.A. in Theology in 2004. 

Unlike most catechumens, Fr. Gregory’s knowledge of Greek allowed him to quickly learn to follow the liturgy and speak freely with parishioners. He soon began attending catechism classes, bringing with him what he describes as an academically-minded stream of questions. This experience helped bridge the chasm between early Christian writings and his Sunday services.

Fr. Gregory Gilbert with his family. Photo courtesy of Fr. Gregory Gilbert

Following seminary, Fr. Gregory and Presvytera Catherine moved to the Washington, D.C., area, where he pursued graduate studies at the Catholic University of America. He earned a second M.A. in Classics in 2008 and a Ph.D. in Greek and Latin in 2014, specializing in the writings of the Church Fathers. During his graduate studies, he also served as Head Chanter at Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Frederick, Maryland.

Fr. Gregory’s academic work and ministry have taken him both across the United States and abroad. From 2011 to 2012, Fr. Gregory spent a year in Greece with his wife and their children while conducting doctoral research as a Fulbright Fellow at the American School of Classical Studies in Athens at the Gennadius Library. While there, he also completed the coursework and examination for the Diploma of Byzantine Chant, issued by the Greek Ministry of Culture.

Upon returning to the U.S., he spent two years as an adjunct lecturer in the Ancient Studies Department at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Scholarship, teaching, Byzantine music, and pastoral ministry have intersected throughout much of Fr. Gregory’s life. His academic background, particularly his study of the Church Fathers and the ancient world, offers another dimension to the experiences he now brings to the Cathedral.

Teaching remains an important part of how Fr. Gregory understands his ministry. Between his time teaching high school, university, and graduate students, academia occupied nearly a decade of his life. Fr. Gregory said he still sees himself as a teacher, even if the classroom now takes different forms. His years studying the Church Fathers and early Christian writings likewise continue to shape the questions he asks and the way he explains the faith as a proistamenos.

In 2015, His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of Sardis (then of Metropolitan New Jersey) ordained Fr. Gregory to the diaconate on October 4 and to the priesthood on October 25. Fr. Gregory subsequently served as presiding priest of Sts. Mary Magdalene & Markella Greek Orthodox Church in Darlington, Maryland, from 2015 to 2017, followed by St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, from 2017 to 2023.

From 2023 to 2025, Fr. Gregory served as Dean of the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Theologian in Tenafly, New Jersey. He most recently served as Chancellor of the Metropolis of New Jersey under His Eminence Archbishop-elect Apostolos of Canada (then Metropolitan of New Jersey), who bestowed upon Fr. Gregory the ecclesiastical titles of Economos and Protopresbyter.

As Dean of the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Theologian, Fr. Gregory oversaw a community with two schools and numerous ministries for different age groups while also helping the Cathedral serve as a focal point of the Metropolis for hierarchical liturgies and special events. He compared the role of a presiding priest to that of a conductor, responsible for keeping many moving parts working together. He sees that experience as valuable preparation for his new role as Dean of the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.

Although Fr. Gregory had visited Holy Trinity Cathedral many times for major events, weddings, and other occasions, he says he knew far less about the day-to-day life of the parish before his appointment. One of the pleasant surprises of his first days as Dean has been getting to know the Cathedral’s parishioners, Board of Trustees, and staff, as well as the community behind the institution.

After more than a decade of priestly ministry and leadership, Fr. Gregory now begins his ministry at Holy Trinity with a greater understanding of both dimensions of the Cathedral: its prominent place in the life of the Archdiocese and the parish community that sustains its daily life.

That process of getting to know the Cathedral extends to its history as well. On one of his first days as Dean, Fr. Gregory hosted a group of roughly 50 high school students on an educational trip for high school students from Thessaloniki with Fr. Gregory Telemachos Stamkopoulos, Director of Greek Education. As the students asked questions about the parish, Fr. Gregory Gilbert was able to offer a brief history of the Cathedral, an experience that highlighted both its broader significance and how much he still hopes to learn about its history and place within the Archdiocese.

Taking on leadership of an established parish also means balancing continuity with the possibility of positive change and growth. As Fr. Gregory begins his tenure, one of the central questions will be how he hopes to build upon the Cathedral’s existing life while identifying areas for growth. Fr. Gregory said his first priority is not to remake an already-established parish, but to strengthen what is already in place. Two ministries stand out to him in particular: the Cathedral School and Cathedral Connect.

Fr. Gregory described the Cathedral School as an opportunity few Orthodox parishes have: a full-time Orthodox school serving families from across New York City.

 “It’s something to treasure and take care of and be good stewards of,” Fr. Gregory says.

Cathedral Connect, meanwhile, gives Holy Trinity a strong foundation for ministry to college students, graduate students, and young professionals. Fr. Gregory said he is excited by the opportunity to serve young adults at a stage when many are beginning to ask deeper questions about faith, identity, and their life’s direction.

Young adults are one group Fr. Gregory is especially eager to serve. With two older children of his own–one in college and one in graduate school–he is familiar with the questions and transitions that can accompany this stage of life. His connection to young adults also reaches back to his years in academia. Before entering the priesthood, he had imagined his own path would center on working closely with students. 

“What I thought my life was going to be was in academia, working with college and graduate students on a daily basis,” Fr. Gregory says. In many parishes, he said, young adulthood can become a “missing link” after youth ministry, as students leave for college and begin their professional lives. 

At Holy Trinity, he sees an opportunity to remain present during what he described as a formative and sometimes uncertain stage of life. He hopes to create space for young adults to ask their own questions about faith, including how they begin to embrace it as their own, apart from their parents or upbringing.

The Cathedral’s Philoptochos chapter also plays an important role in parish life, carrying out charitable and philanthropic work that extends the Cathedral’s ministry beyond its walls. Its active presence at Holy Trinity has made it a model chapter for Philoptochos throughout the Archdiocese, reflecting the broader commitment to service that Fr. Gregory hopes to continue building upon.

Beyond strengthening ministries within the parish, Fr. Gregory also sees Holy Trinity as having a responsibility that extends beyond its immediate community.

 “This is the Archdiocesan Cathedral, so it has to be a church that Orthodox Christians from across America can come to,” Fr. Gregory says. “It has to be a home for Greek Orthodox Christians coming to New York.”

At the same time, he sees the Cathedral’s location as an opportunity to reach those outside the existing parish community. 

“We have to be a visible church,” he said, noting that people may initially walk through the doors simply out of curiosity. “We have to be ready to welcome them in, whether they come to worship or are beginning to figure out their own journey toward Orthodoxy.” 

He also sees charitable and philanthropic outreach as an important responsibility of a city parish, seeking to continue the Cathedral’s established homeless outreach ministry, which serves those in need throughout Manhattan and elsewhere in New York City. Meeting on the second Friday of each month, members of the parish and greater community prepare hygiene kits and distribute them at designated locations throughout Manhattan.

Alongside those broader efforts, Fr. Gregory is focused on the relationships he hopes to build within the Cathedral community. As he begins his first weeks at Holy Trinity, Fr. Gregory says he wants parishioners to know that he sees the Cathedral as their community, and hopes they will find him approachable as they get to know their new Dean. 

“I think I’m easy to work with,” Fr. Gregory says with a laugh.

More importantly, Fr. Gregory sees his role as one of guiding and supporting a community that ultimately belongs to its faithful. 

“I’m concerned about this being their community and about them having that sense of ownership of it,” Fr. Gregory says. “My role is to be their shepherd and to guide them.” As he looks ahead, Fr. Gregory hopes to see the Cathedral community continue to grow while keeping its parishioners at the center of its life and ministry.

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With an appointment from His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America to become the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity’s Dean, effective September 1, 2026, Fr. Gregory Gilbert is set to begin a new chapter of […]

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Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew emphasizes religious, ethical dimensions of the ecological threat

09/17/2026

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on September 1, 2026 celebrated the beginning of the Indiction, the ecclesiastical New Year, as well as the Day of Prayer for the Protection of the Natural Environment, as Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios of blessed memory designated it in 1989. On the same day, he issued a Patriarchal Message for the Beginning of the Ecclesiastical Year and the Solemn Day of Prayers for Natural Environment, reiterating his pioneering commitment to the preservation of the natural environment as a core Christian duty, and articulating “new paths and prospects for addressing” this immense challenge.

In that message, His All-Holiness emphasized that the environmental crisis affects all areas of human endeavor: “The multidimensional contemporary ecological crisis is a crisis of human freedom, of our religion and philosophy, of our ethos and our culture.” He explained that “what comes first is the ‘harmful alteration’ of our freedom — our severance and alienation from the Source of Life; what follows is conduct destructive of the natural environment.”

In response to this crisis, the Ecumenical Patriarch said that there was an “imperative need for a ‘Copernican Turn’ in our understanding of the idea of progress and in humanity’s attitude towards nature, as well as in the actions of those engaged in political, economic, and social life, of the Churches and religions, of science and technology, and of those responsible for the education of the younger generation.”

In pursuit of this transformation in the general understanding of the environment and its relationship to human activity, he pledged to “continue, in word and deed, to promote the ecological vision of the Holy Great Church of Christ and the eco-friendly dynamism of the eucharistic, ascetic, and doxological relationship with creation, always underscoring that careful theological work is needed for the elucidation of the authentic ecological message of our Orthodox faith and tradition, for the benefit of creation, which is ‘very good.’”

While the environmental crisis is usually understood solely in utilitarian terms, His All-Holiness stated that “we are convinced that highlighting the religious and ethical dimensions of the ecological threat will lead to an awareness of the pivotal importance of ‘ecological responsibility.’” He declared that “humanity must at last cease acting as though it does not know and definitively cast aside the illusion that planet Earth can in perpetuity withstand the burdens and destruction caused by human activity, or that nature has the power to renew itself of its own accord.”

Once that illusion has been definitively seen for what it is and rejected, His All-Holiness continued, “the ethos of responsibility for the protection of the natural environment must find expression at the global, national, local, and personal levels.” This multifaceted response is an urgent necessity: “We reiterate once again that the cultivation of ecological responsibility is a ‘categorical imperative’ for humanity as it confronts the greatest threat it has ever been called to face throughout the entire course of its history.”

His All-Holiness enunciated a prophetic condemnation of the heedless culture of abundance, saying: “It is abundantly clear that, so long as the dominant anthropological model is represented by the ‘foolish rich man’ of the Gospel (Luke 12:17–21), with his declaration, ‘I will pull down my barns and build greater; and there I will store all my crops and my goods,’ and his words, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry,’ humanity will continue to undermine its future and annihilate its own ‘home.’”

Continuing his critique of contemporary attitudes toward the environment, the Ecumenical Patriarch stated: “The ‘sins of modernity’ have created — and continue to create — new divisions and ruptures between humanity and nature. The contemporary ‘man-god’ persists in geocide, disregarding every measure and limit in the name of geopolitical designs and economic interests, of consumerism and of the satisfaction of essentially insatiable needs, but also, on a deeper level, because of an overturning of inner lived experience and values.”

A restoration of rightly ordered inner values will therefore lead to a proper understanding of the need to care for the natural environment. Otherwise, said His All-Holiness, “the consequences of the global dominance of the desire to manipulate, instrumentalize, and exploit nature will prove to be tragic for life on our planet.”

His All-Holiness concluded by stating that “respect for the core pillars of ecological civilization can restrain environmentally destructive tendencies and open the ‘sole ecological path,’ that of sustainable development.” He also once again situated the problem of the environment in a larger context: “More broadly, humanity needs to reach agreement upon a body of common fundamental values which, in a world marked by conflict and polarization, will serve as a compass for the journey towards the future.” He stated: “We regard the principle of solidarity as the central axis of this body of values: solidarity as a source of shared responsibility, dialogue, and sincere reciprocity, together with collective responsibility for the protection of the natural environment. Respect in practice for the sacredness of the human person and care for the integrity of creation are, from a Christian perspective, vital manifestations of the eucharistic realization of the Church and of human being’s call to become the ‘priest’ of creation.”

May we all strive to cultivate that principle of solidarity within ourselves and in our relationships with others.

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His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on September 1, 2026 celebrated the beginning of the Indiction, the ecclesiastical New Year, as well as the Day of Prayer for the Protection of the Natural Environment, as Ecumenical […]

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Archbishop Elpidophoros blesses the reopening of honorary Greek consulate in New Orleans

09/16/2026

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America offered his blessing in a video message marking the September 14 reopening of Greece’s consular presence in New Orleans, with John D. Georges serving as Honorary Consul of Greece. His Eminence recalled the very deep roots of the Greek American community in the city and the historic role New Orleans played in the establishment of Greek Orthodoxy in America. The reopening restores an official Greek presence in New Orleans after the previous consulate closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Archbishop Elpidophoros blessed the reopening in a video message from the Honorary Greek Consulate in New Orleans. (Hellenic Republic from the Greek Consulate in New Orleans).

The history to which Archbishop Elpidophoros referred reaches back much further than the major waves of Greek immigration of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral records a Greek presence in New Orleans from the mid-1700s, including the arrival in 1766 of Greek seaman Miguel Dragon.

> Watch the full video here.

By the early 1860s, Greek merchants including Nicholas Benachi and John Botassi were working to establish an Orthodox church. In 1864, Benachi opened his home on Bayou Road for worship, marking the beginning of the organized Holy Trinity community; in 1866, the community constructed its first church building at 1222 N. Dorgenois Street in Tremé. Holy Trinity is recognized by both the Cathedral and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America as the first Greek Orthodox church in North and South America. Archbishop Elpidophoros himself underscored that distinction during his 2025 Archpastoral visit to New Orleans, when he referred to Holy Trinity as the “Mother Church of Greek Orthodoxy in the Americas.”

John Georges, a businessman, publisher, philanthropist and longtime leader of the Greek American community in New Orleans. (The Hellenic Republic from the Greek Consulate in New Orleans)

John Georges, a New Orleans businessman, publisher, philanthropist and longtime leader of the Greek American community, is CEO of Georges Enterprises, whose interests include distribution, real estate and hospitality; he and his wife, Dathel, are also the owners of The Advocate and The Times-Picayune. Georges was invested as an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2006 with the offikion of Kastrinsios, is a member of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100, and has served Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in leadership positions, including as Parish Council president and led the parish’s rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Katrina.

Messages marking the reopening were sent by House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece. The ceremony was attended by Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou; Antonis Alexandridis, Greece’s ambassador to the United States; New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno; and representatives of the Greek American community. Also in attendance was the Reverend Protopresbyter George Wilson, dean of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

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His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America offered his blessing in a video message marking the September 14 reopening of Greece’s consular presence in New Orleans, with John D. Georges serving as Honorary Consul of Greece. […]

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AHEPA spearheads $250,000 in scholarships for HCHC

09/15/2026

In celebration of the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross, the Order of AHEPA, led by Supreme President E. Chris Kaitson, spearheaded $250,000 worth of scholarships for seminarians attending the Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Representing AHEPA on this incredible occasion, Supreme Secretary Themistocles Frangos attended the celebration on behalf of the Supreme President, speaking to the clergy and remarking the significance of the school. Additionally, Supreme Governor Greg Simones and AHEPA Board of Trustees Secretary Alex Geourntas joined the Supreme Secretary for this celebration of faith and philanthropy.

The scholarships were made possible by the AHEPA Educational Foundation via funds raised by the Supreme President and through the John George Tsitsos Scholarship Fund – an incredibly generous endowment designed to enable students of Hellenic descent to pursue their educational goals for years to come.

During today’s ceremony, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America spoke to the importance of the work AHEPA does to further education for the next generation of Hellenes, remarking the continued generosity of AHEPA’s educational arm.

The AHEPA Educational Foundation is the primary means of AHEPA’s philanthropic support for education – annually granting raised funds to alleviate the significant financial burden faced by today’s students.

“We look forward to continuing the incredible work of this program which actively builds bridges between AHEPA and the clergy who serve as pillars in our Hellenic communities. In this regard, our partnership with Holy Cross is truly one-of-a-kind, allowing us to support our faith, our culture and our future all through the ‘E’ in AHEPA,” said Supreme President Kaitson.

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In celebration of the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross, the Order of AHEPA, led by Supreme President E. Chris Kaitson, spearheaded $250,000 worth of scholarships for seminarians attending the Hellenic College and […]

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