The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America joyfully announces that today, Thursday, October 1, 2026, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos as Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey. 

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America received the news of the election with profound joy and thanksgiving to Almighty God, joining the clergy and faithful of the Sacred Archdiocese and the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey in proclaiming “ΑΞΙΟΣ!” to His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras. 

Reflecting upon the election, Archbishop Elpidophoros stated:

“With profound joy and thanksgiving to God, I congratulate my beloved brother, His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of New Jersey, upon his election by the Holy and Sacred Synod of our Ecumenical Patriarchate. For many years, I have had the blessing of witnessing firsthand his devotion to Christ and His Church, his fidelity to the Mother Church of Constantinople, and the extraordinary care with which he has undertaken every ministry entrusted to him. 

Today, his many years of faithful service open into a new chapter of his episcopal ministry. The Holy Metropolis of New Jersey receives a shepherd who knows and loves our Church, who has served Her faithfully, and who understands that the episcopacy is above all a ministry of sacrifice, presence, and love. I rejoice not only as Archbishop of America, but as his brother and concelebrant, and I assure him of my wholehearted love and support as he begins this sacred responsibility. We wish him many years and exclaim ΑΞΙΟΣ!” 

The Enthronement of His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of New Jersey will take place on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the Cathedral of Saint John the Theologian in Tenafly, New Jersey at 11:00 am. On the following day, Sunday, November 8, His Eminence will celebrate his first Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral as Metropolitan of New Jersey. 

The clergy and faithful of the our Sacred Archdiocese offer their heartfelt congratulations and fervent prayers for His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras as he begins his archpastoral ministry in the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey, praying that our Lord Jesus Christ grant him strength, wisdom, and many years of fruitful service to His Holy Church. 

Biography of His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of New Jersey 

His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of New Jersey was born Christos Ziliaskopoulos in 1970 in Reutlingen, Germany, and was raised in both Germany and Greece. During his young adulthood, he spent several formative years in the monastic life on Mount Athos, an experience that profoundly shaped his vocation and lifelong devotion to Christ and His Church. 

He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate in 1997 and to the Holy Priesthood in 1998 by His Eminence Metropolitan Augoustinos of Germany. In 1999, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew elevated him to the rank of Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne. 

For more than twenty years, His Eminence served the Church in Germany in extensive parish, pastoral, and administrative ministry, including as Hierarchical Vicar of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Germany for the states of Hessen and Rhineland-Palatinate. He also represented the Ecumenical Patriarchate in ecumenical theological dialogues and was active in Christian and interfaith initiatives. Among his pastoral accomplishments were the establishment of the first Orthodox chapel at Frankfurt International Airport, a 24-hour Orthodox crisis hotline, and the first Greek Orthodox youth camp in Germany. He also oversaw significant parish building and restoration projects. 

In 2017, he relocated to Toronto, Canada, at the invitation of His Eminence Archbishop Sotirios of Canada, where he served as Dean of the Patriarchal Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy and as Office Director of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada. 

In 2019, His Eminence came to the United States to offer his ministry to the Sacred Archdiocese of America and Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, where he initially served as Chaplain. In 2021, he was appointed Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod and Spiritual Advisor of the National Philoptochos Society and was subsequently entrusted with the direction of the Archdiocesan Department of Religious Education. 

> Metropolitan-elect Athenagoras appointed as spiritual advisor of Philoptochos

On May 19, 2021, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected him Bishop of Nazianzos. He was ordained to the Holy Episcopacy on June 5, 2021, at Holy Cross Chapel in Brookline, Massachusetts, with His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presiding. In the years that followed, he continued his extensive service to the Sacred Archdiocese while also serving as Archiepiscopal Vicar of the Hellenic Orthodox Community of Astoria.  

> Previously: Archbishop Elpidophoros address at the 2021 ordination of Bishop-elect Athenagoras of Nazianzos

Metropolitan Athenagoras has an extensive academic background. He holds degrees in German Language and Orthodox Theology, including a Master of Theology and a Doctorate in Orthodox Theology from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. His studies have also included pedagogy, German literature, Roman Catholic and Protestant theology, Judaism, Islamic studies, and comparative religion. His scholarly and ecclesiastical work has been particularly engaged with Orthodox theology, religious education, ecumenical dialogue, and interfaith relations. 

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Twenty-five years after 9/11, Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM) is returning to Ground Zero to host a three-part series on the sanctity of life at the St. Nicholas National Shrine on October 22-23 entitled Suffer with You: Lessons on the Sanctity of Life from Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry. 

Drawing from their combined decades of pastoral experience in prison ministry, The Very Rev. Fr. John Kowalczyk and The Very Rev. Fr. Stephen Powley will offer theological reflections and practical insight on topics including abortion, capital punishment, forgiveness, love of neighbor, and Christ’s call to serve those who are incarcerated. Each session will conclude with a question-and-answer period, providing attendees the opportunity for further discussion and engagement. 

EVENT SCHEDULE

Day 1: The Sanctity of Life: From the Womb to the Tomb (Death Row) – 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm This session will focus on the sanctity of life—from the unborn to those on death row—emphasizing that no person is beyond God’s love or redemption. 

Day 2: 

Suffer With You: Lessons on Forgiveness from Prison – 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm The second session will explore the transformative power of forgiveness, the importance of making space for God to work in our lives, and the hope that genuine repentance and change are possible for every person. 

With the Fear of God Draw Near: Prison Ministry’s Call to Action – 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm The final session will focus on stepping outside of your comfort zones to answer Christ’s call to serve others, how to recognize Christ in every person, and take action while trusting in God’s plan.

Learn more and register for this very special event at theocpm.org/stnicholas

Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM) is an Agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America. For Orthodox Christians who have been arrested for crimes, OCPM helps them return to the Faith, offering forgiveness and reconciliation in Christ. For both Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike, OCPM provides spiritual care, enabling prisoners to find hope and purpose in their lives. For more information, please visit theocpm.org , follow us on Facebook and Instagram @theocpm, or find us on Substack ocpm.substack.com

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NEW YORK, September 27, 2026 — The National Greek Folk Dance and Cultural Ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the University of Ioannina have announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a framework for academic, cultural, and educational cooperation focused on the preservation, teaching, and resource development of Greek traditional dance and cultural heritage.

Approved by the Holy Eparchial Synod in October 2025 and inspired by the vision of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, the new ministry is an initiative dedicated to preserving, promoting, and celebrating Hellenic culture as a vital expression of the Orthodox faith.

The partnership is designed to connect academic research and expertise with the lived cultural experience of Greek diaspora communities in the United States in order to strengthen the transmission of Greek heritage to future generations.

Under the MOU, the institutions will explore collaboration in areas including Greek traditional dance, dance anthropology, folklore, cultural identity and heritage, education, and artistic expression. Planned areas of cooperation include educational programs and workshops, curriculum and resource development, scholarly research and publication, student and faculty exchanges, professional development for dance educators, and opportunities for students and researchers to pursue projects addressing cultural sustainability and the transmission of Greek dance traditions.

“This collaboration represents an important bridge between scholarship and community,” said George C. Demos of the ministry’s National Advisory Board. “By bringing together the academic resources of the University of Ioannina, the faith through culture mission of the new ministry, and the national reach of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, we can create new opportunities to preserve, understand, teach, and celebrate the traditions that connect generations of Hellenes and philhellenes.”

The partnership received an early public celebration at Kefi @ Mile High, a cultural weekend presented by the Hellenic Dance Academy of Denver, on September 25-26, 2026. The Denver gathering brought together members of the Greek-American community for workshops, discussion, and a glendi with folk musicians from the U.S. and Greece. The event featured the participation of ministry leadership along with Dr. Christos Papakostas, Professor in the Department of Primary Education and Director of the Laboratory of Language, Folklore and Culture at the University of Ioannina, who signed the MOU on behalf of the University.

The National Greek Folk Dance and Cultural Ministry mission is to promote, preserve, educate, and celebrate Hellenic dance, music, song, and cultural traditions to teach and spread the Orthodox Christian Faith, and to foster a dynamic community in which cultural heritage serves as a living witness to the beauty of the Orthodox faith, engaging current and future generations. Follow the Ministry on Instagram. For more information about Kefi @ Mile High, visit www.kefiatmilehigh.com.

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Rev. Dr. Eugen J. Pentiuc, Dean of Holy Cross and Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies, will offer a weekly Bible Study every Thursday at 7:00 PM Eastern via Zoom.

Part of The Scriptorium Initiative at Holy Cross, funded by Lilly Endowment, this Bible Study is open to everyone: seminarians, clergy, faithful, seekers, and all who wish to discover more deeply how Scripture is read, interpreted, and lived within the Orthodox tradition.

Coming October 15, 2026. For more information and registration, visit thescriptoriuminitiative.org.

Recurring zoom link to the weekly Bible Study: https://hchc-edu.zoom.us/j/84399084787?pwd=sxU3jn3SdX2lsMLJI55aQkiKX0PnmB.1

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