Orthodox Volunteer Corps (OVC) is a year-long immersive program for young adults ages 21-29 to serve with our most vulnerable neighbors. Corps Members live in community with other young adults, explore topics of the faith and leadership, and root themselves in the Church. Housing, transportation, and food are 100% covered. OVC began programming in Pittsburgh in fall 2022 with 6 participants, expanded to Boston in 2024, and by 2026 had over 100 participants across four programs.

OVC is now pleased to announce expansion to a third city: Phoenix, Arizona, beginning in Fall 2027.

Applications are now open for the 2027-28 full-time program. Learn more at orthodoxvolunteercorps.org/.

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The National Philoptochos Society was honored to welcome Domna Michailidou, Greece’s Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, and Consul Petros Doritzas to the Philoptochos Center of Philanthropy (PCOP) on Monday, September 21, as world leaders gathered in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The Minister was accompanied by her aides, Katerina Fountotou and Maria Billia. 

The visit opened with an in-depth discussion of Philoptochos’s expansive philanthropic work at the local, national, and international levels. Leadership presented an overview of the organization’s programs and ministries, reflecting nearly a century of service to those in need. 

Caregiver support emerged as a central focus of the conversation. As strengthening and supporting the family is among Minister Michailidou’s foremost priorities, the discussion explored the challenges caregivers face and how communities can better support them. The meeting also looked toward new horizons, considering how Philoptochos can expand its reach and support those in need in Greece and beyond. 

“It was such an honor to welcome Minister Michailidou to the Philoptochos Center of Philanthropy during this important week, when the eyes of the world are on New York. Her steadfast dedication to families and caregivers speaks to the very heart of our mission, and our conversation opened new horizons for how Philoptochos can extend its love and service to those in need in Greece and beyond. We are deeply grateful for her visit and look forward, with great hope, to all that lies ahead,” said Anita Kartalopoulos, National Philoptochos Vice President

Following the meeting, guests gathered for a luncheon at the Philoptochos Center of Philanthropy, where fellowship and continued conversation filled the air. 

Also in attendance were His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos, Spiritual Advisor to the National Philoptochos; Anita Kartalopoulos, National Philoptochos First Vice President; Chrissy Orginos-Zografos, National Philoptochos Protocol Officer and Aid to Greece and Cyprus Committee Chair; Paulette Geanacopoulos, Director of Social Services; and Elizabeth Douglass, Administrative Assistant. 

The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Inc. is the philanthropic arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. With over 90 years of experience, Philoptochos has served communities in need through fundraising and charitable programs. The Society includes more than 400 active chapters nationwide. Learn more at www.philoptochos.org. 

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NEW YORK — His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America welcomed Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Sept. 23 to the annual Greek-American Community “Oli Mazi” (“Όλοι Μαζί”) Luncheon in Manhattan, hosted by The Hellenic Initiative and 27 Greek American organizations. Mitsotakis is in New York for the high-level week of the 81st U.N. General Assembly. He was accompanied by his wife, Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotaki.

“The Greek American community welcomes you,” His Eminence told the prime minister in Greek. “It loves you and it stands by you.” “Thank you, and I am happy to be here once again,” Mitsotakis replied.

Energy was at the center of Mitsotakis’ remarks on relations with the United States. He cited the Vertical Gas Corridor and Greece’s role in supplying energy to the Balkans and Eastern Europe. He said a U.S.-Greek consortium would most likely begin exploratory drilling for natural gas next spring. He also spoke about his stop in California, where he met with Silicon Valley executives as part of an effort to strengthen Greece’s position in technology and artificial intelligence. Mitsotakis described Greece as a pillar of stability in a very turbulent region. “Greece is a peaceful country, and we always seek good and productive relations with our neighbors, especially Turkey,” he said. “We threaten no one, but we will not accept anyone threatening us.” He also reminded those who hold voting rights in Greece to register on the online platform so they can take part in the next election.

Mitsotakis then presented decorations of the Hellenic Republic to six honorees:

•  Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev.
• Michael Amiridis, president of the University of South Carolina
• Dr. George Dangas, a cardiologist and professor of medicine and surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• John Koudounis, president and CEO of Calamos Investments
• Athena Kromidas, who for many years was principal of the William Spyropoulos Greek American Day School at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing, Queens
• Patrick Theros, a former U.S. ambassador to Qatar

Senior U.S. officials in attendance included Michael Rigas, deputy secretary of state for management and resources, and Aristidis Kourkoumelis, assistant secretary for trade and economic security at the Department of Homeland Security. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was also present. Three members of the Greek government also attended: Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni and Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou. Elected officials at the luncheon included California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis; New York state Sen. Andrew Gounardes; and state Assemblyman Michael Tannousis. They were joined by former New York state Sen. Michael Gianaris. Greek diplomats attending included Antonis Alexandridis, the ambassador to the United States; Iphigenia Kanara, consul general in New York; and Symeon Tegos, who was consul general in Boston until recently. Kyriakos Pogiatzis, consul general of Cyprus in New York, also attended.

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The Maliotis Cultural Center of Hellenic College Holy Cross is pleased to announce the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Center for Hellenic Studies at Harvard University, opening a new chapter of academic and cultural collaboration between the two institutions.

Building on an ongoing dialogue and a shared interest in strengthening Hellenic studies, the MOU provides a framework for developing joint initiatives in scholarship, culture, and public engagement.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to the study and dissemination of Greek language and culture and to meaningful engagement with the Hellenic world in both its historical and contemporary dimensions.

Through this collaboration, the two institutions will explore opportunities for scholarly exchange, interdisciplinary dialogue, academic programming, cultural initiatives, and public events, bringing together scholars, students, and wider audiences.

The first initiative associated with this new collaboration will be the upcoming program “Living Within Planetary Boundaries,” on Thursday, October 15, featuring Alexandra Mitsotakis as a guest speaker.

The event offers an early example of the kinds of conversations the partnership hopes to foster: bringing scholarship into dialogue with contemporary questions and connecting the intellectual and cultural dimensions of Hellenic studies with broader public concerns.

We look forward to the opportunities this partnership will create for future collaboration, cultural exchange, and engagement with the Hellenic world.

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NEW YORK — His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America welcomed Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla to the Archdiocese headquarters in Manhattan on Tuesday, Sept. 22. Rodríguez, who is in New York for the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, was accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío.

During the meeting, Minister Rodríguez briefed Archbishop Elpidophoros on what he described as worsening humanitarian conditions facing the Cuban people, especially the most vulnerable. The Archbishop, for his part, spoke of the Church’s responsibility to place the human person and the God-given dignity of every individual at the center of its concern. “I will pray that the Lord illumine the minds and hearts of all those engaged in dialogue, so that they may find a peaceful path forward that will relieve suffering and bring hope to the people of Cuba,” Archbishop Elpidophoros said. His Eminence also said he would reach out to the Archdiocese’s ecumenical partners, beginning with the National Council of Churches, to explore how faith communities might cooperate in humanitarian efforts.

Cuba has had an Orthodox cathedral since January 2004, when Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew consecrated the Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Myra in Old Havana.

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A newly-revised bilingual edition of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom has arrived at the Orthodox Marketplace warehouse and is now in stock. The Divine Liturgy Pew Edition 2026, published by Orthodox Press, can be ordered by parishes in bulk and by individuals one copy at a time.

The volume was prepared under the direction of the Department of Religious Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and approved by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It presents the official Greek and English texts of the Divine Liturgy on facing pages.

The new edition follows the official Greek Hieratikon of 2020 and brings a careful revision of both the Greek and the English. Drawing on the liturgical experience of the Church, scholarly review and pastoral practice, the revised translation aims for greater clarity and precision while keeping the theological depth and the familiar cadence that worshippers know.

The book is bound in hardcover, with a gold-stamped cover and an interior design inspired by the Byzantine tradition. Alongside the Divine Liturgy, it includes the Prayers of Thanksgiving after Holy Communion, the Memorial Service (Trisagion) and the Service of the Blessing of the Five Loaves (Artoklasia).

Parishes throughout the Archdiocese are invited to place the new edition in their pews, so that the faithful can follow the service closely and take part in it more fully. Clergy, chanters, readers and laypeople may also order individual copies for personal prayer, liturgical study, use at home or as a gift.

How to order

Parishes can order by the case, with 48 books per case, for pew and congregational use: Place a bulk order (48 books per case)

Individuals can purchase single copies here: Purchase an individual copy

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The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is pleased to announce the 2026 Archbishop Elpidophoros Nameday Gala will take place on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Pier 60 in Manhattan.

This year, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros has dedicated the celebration to honoring the life and ministry of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, inviting the faithful of the Archdiocese to come together in gratitude for a life devoted to Christ, His Church, and the people of God.

Reflecting on the decision to dedicate this year’s Nameday Gala to his predecessor, Archbishop Elpidophoros said:

“Archbishop Demetrios has given his entire life to the service of Christ and His Church. His nearly twenty years as Archbishop of America represent only one chapter in a remarkable ministry that has touched the lives of countless people, in Greece, here in America, and throughout the world. His service as Archbishop, his scholarship and teaching, his pastoral care, and his witness on behalf of the Church have left an enduring mark on our Archdiocese. I believe it is important for our entire Archdiocese to come together to honor him, to express our gratitude for his service, and to celebrate the legacy of faith, wisdom, and love that he has given to our Church. I am honored that this year’s Nameday celebration will provide an opportunity for all of us to express our love and gratitude to His Eminence.”

The Archbishop’s Nameday Gala will also continue its important charitable mission. Proceeds from the 2026 celebration will benefit the Archdiocesan Youth Summer Camp Scholarship Fund, helping children from across the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America attend summer camp regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.

The scholarship fund has become an important and growing part of the Archdiocese’s ministry to young people. In 2024, 275 young people received scholarship assistance to attend Greek Orthodox summer camps. In 2025, that number increased to 310 scholarships, with an even greater number of the Archdiocese’s Metropolises participating in the grant program. This continued year-over-year growth demonstrates both the need for this ministry and the tangible difference the generosity of the faithful is making in the lives of young Orthodox Christians.

As the Archdiocese gathers to honor Archbishop Demetrios, it will also look toward the future by investing in the next generation of the Church.

Join us on November 2 at Pier 60 in Manhattan as we celebrate the Nameday of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, honor the life and ministry of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, and help make the transformative experience of Orthodox summer camp available to even more children throughout the Archdiocese.

• Monday, November 2, 2026
• 6:00 p.m.
• Pier 60 | Manhattan
• Single Tickets, tables and sponsorship opportunities are currently available online. For more information or to make a contribution to the Archdiocesan Youth Summer Camp Scholarship Fund, please visit www.goarch.org/nameday.

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NEW YORK — His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America welcomed Greece’s Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Domna Michailidou, to the Archdiocese headquarters in Manhattan on Monday, Sept. 21. Their conversation ranged from the life of the Church and the Greek-American community to elder care, disability and inclusion, and to what institutions in Greece and the United States can learn from one another.

Minister Michailidou is in New York as heads of state, ministers and diplomats gather for the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Their previous meeting took place at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens on Dec. 4, 2025, during a public symposium on For the Life of the World: Toward a Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church, a volume examining contemporary social questions through the theological and ethical tradition of the Orthodox Church.

During Monday’s meeting, Archbishop Elpidophoros shared impressions from his recent visit to Anchorage, Alaska, where on Saturday, Sept. 19, he consecrated Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church. Holy Transfiguration is the northernmost parish of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the only Greek Orthodox parish in Alaska, home to a remarkably diverse Orthodox community.

The Archbishop and Minister Michailidou then turned to challenges increasingly shared by Greece and the Greek-American community, above all, how a society cares for a growing elderly population. They discussed the Archdiocese’s experience in elder care, including through St. Michael’s Home in Yonkers, N.Y., an Archdiocesan elder-care facility whose mission is to preserve the independence and dignity of older adults.

Their conversation also addressed the inclusion of people with physical disabilities and autistic people in the life of the Church and of society, as well as the pressures faced by families caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. They discussed accessibility, participation and the ability of communities to support the caregivers, most often family members, who bear so much of the burden on their own. The Archbishop and the Minister agreed that the Archdiocese and Greece’s public institutions have much to learn from each other’s experience and innovations, and they committed to a regular exchange of information and practices.

> Read more: Voices rise across jurisdictions for ordination of men with disabilities

His Eminence congratulated the Minister on her work and presented her with an icon of Christ the True Vine, an image he often invokes to speak of the unity of the Church. Before leaving, Minister Michailidou invited him to make an official visit to the ministry on his next trip to Greece.

Later Monday, Minister Michailidou was scheduled to visit the A. Fantis School, the parochial school of the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen in Brooklyn Heights. Founded in 1963, the Greek Orthodox school serves students from preschool through eighth grade, pairing a rigorous academic program with Greek language, Hellenic studies and formation in the Orthodox faith. In 2024, A. Fantis was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, becoming the first Greek Orthodox parochial school to receive the distinction.

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New York City is home to one of the most vibrant Greek communities in the world. Yet for a generation of Greek Orthodox young professionals, finding each other has required something more than geography. It has required intention. 

In the years following COVID-19, as the city slowly exhaled, a small group of friends found themselves thinking about connection. A WhatsApp thread among a handful of people has since grown into a community of nearly 1,500 Greek Orthodox young professionals—NYC Greeks—sharing events, opportunities, and the kind of camaraderie that is increasingly rare. In a generation where “IRL” has become a punchline, it is a testament to something deeper: a generation actively reaching for its roots. It is within this movement that Cathedral Connect was reborn. 

A ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Cathedral Connect was revitalized in the fall of 2022 when the Archdiocesan Cathedral Dean recognized both the hunger for community among young Greeks and the unique role the Church has in answering it. Young professionals occupy a particular moment — school is finished, careers have begun, and the question of who we are becoming quietly emerges. The milestones grow further apart. The daily habits and who we surround ourselves with, accumulate in the space between and slowly shape us. The invitation is to move through that season with intention: not just consuming, but creating something good. 

We are no longer the future of the Church. We are its present, and with that comes responsibility. The faith, culture, and memories given to us as children are now our banner to carry forward and evolve. 

What followed has grown into a nationally recognized ministry drawing members from across NYC, Long Island, Westchester, Connecticut, New Jersey, and beyond. Our mission is simple: to offer genuine Greek community, παρεα, within the life of the Church, anchored in the Orthodox faith and heritage that define so much of who we are. 

Cathedral Connect is not alone in this work. Across the city, organizations are cultivating community among young Greeks in their own ways—together reflecting a broader awakening, a generation unwilling to let the threads of faith, culture, and connection quietly unravel. 

Through happy hours and galas, pilgrimage retreats, volunteer and cultural learning opportunities, and Greek dancing—we are building lasting tradition and family. A natural, perpetual ecosystem of thousands navigating the most versatile city in the world, where the church is both a beacon and the foundation.  

No individual can claim credit, but it belongs to each of us, and we should be proud to carry this responsibility with passion, humility, and integrity. 

A Greek network of natural friendships that foster support and growth. That is family. And its home is in the Church — where our heritage was preserved, where our ancestors gathered, and where the next chapter of Greek American life will be written. 

Whether you grew up in the Greek Orthodox community or still finding your way—you are welcome here. 

Come connect. 

– Cathedral Connect Ministry 

 If you want to get involved, please reach out: 

Email: [email protected]  

Instagram: @cathedralconnect 

Facebook: Cathedral Connect

The post We are not the future, we are the now: Cathedral Connect | Op-Ed appeared first on Orthodox Observer.

Iconography is a visual language; by transcending words and speech, iconography allows Orthodox and non-Orthodox viewers alike to connect to the tradition’s stories, lessons, and emotions. For artist Katerina Spilio, this makes iconography is a spiritual medium for expressing love. 

Raised in a family of artists, Spilio first learned the foundations of iconography from her father. A student of the Athens School of Fine Arts, Archbishop Iakovos brought him to the U.S. to help meet the Archdiocese’s growing need for iconographers. Spilio spent years working alongside her father, observing his techniques and practicing in her own studio.

After completing a degree in English at Pace University, Spilio settled in Hastings-on-Hudson in 1991. There, she balanced raising her daughters with commissioned projects before eventually devoting herself more fully to iconography, a craft that remained deeply intertwined with her father’s lifelong artistic vocation. 

Before establishing her own business, Spilio worked as her father’s assistant on numerous church commissions. Together, they completed projects for Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches throughout the Northeast, including restoration work at Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church in Baltimore and commissions for Catholic parishes across the New York metropolitan area.

Beyond ecclesiastical art, Spilio built a successful career in decorative painting for television, film, and historic restoration projects, contributing to productions including Saturday Night Live as well as films like The Bride and television shows like the John Oliver Show. She also served as the lead artist during the extensive restoration of the historic Hotel Syracuse, overseeing murals, wood graining, stenciling, and the training of a crew working across the building’s 300,000 square feet.

Since her father’s passing in 2013, Spilio has continued her work independently, approaching each project with the same dedication to craftsmanship, beauty, and the hope her work will offer a sense of peace to those who encounter it. 

Though Spilio’s work spans both religious and secular art, iconography has remained at the heart of her career; much of her art is rooted in the traditional Byzantine style of the Greek Orthodox Church. Historically, icons served as visual theology, depicting the life of Christ and the saints for worshippers who could not read. While Western religious paintings often emphasize realism, Byzantine icons invite the viewer’s contemplation and spiritual imagination.

“Icons are supposed to have a somberness, solemnity that shows you the message and perhaps some compassion and understanding and love,” Spilio says. “They’re not realistic enough, so your own mind and spirit have to interpret the image in a way that you understand—it’s personal.” 

For Spilio, every icon is designed to foster peace. 

“I try to create scenes that will bring harmony and settle the spirit so people can go into a church and pray and feel better,” Spilio says.

She believes thoughtful composition is essential to achieving that sense of peace, drawing on her background in fine art to create balanced, symmetrical images that often incorporate the golden ratio. Like handwriting, she says, an iconographer’s brushwork becomes uniquely recognizable over time—a visual fingerprint that distinguishes one artist from another. 

Spilio’s artistic curiosity also extends beyond traditional iconography. In recent years, she has explored applying the geometric forms and flattened perspective that characterize iconography to secular subjects such as family portraits.

“How abstract can I get and still have it be an image that is recognized?” Spilio asks. 

Spilio’s personal artwork also explores questions of language, perception, and justice. Interested in the power of words and their capacity to unite or divide communities, in 2001 she drew on her background in English scholarship to create works featuring words with the vowels removed, inviting viewers to interpret fragments such as “JSTCE” and “FRDM.” The ambiguity sparked strikingly different reactions: some viewers embraced the challenge of searching for meaning, while others objected, insisting that concepts like “excessive justice” could not exist. Through these pieces, Spilio examined how language is never neutral, but is shaped by culture, interpretation, interpersonal relationships. 

Throughout her career, Spilio has also been a strong advocate for women working in sacred art. Although historical customs sometimes limited women’s participation in aspects of church life, she believes artistic vocation transcends gender.

 “We are all equal in art, value, or gender,” Spilio says, noting that she encourages more women to pursue iconography and contribute their gifts to the Church. 

Spilio’s religious and restoration work (individual and studio) includes: 

• Platytera, Saint Irene Church, Astoria, New York 
• St. John the Baptist, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Wyckoff, New Jersey
• Last Supper, Evangelismos this Theotokou Chapel#1, Montreal, Quebec, Canada 
• Apostles, St. Barbara, St. Irene, Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, Brooklyn, New York 
• Holy Mother, Four Angels, Christ, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Bridgeport, Connecticut
• Art and design direction, original artwork, historic restoration, and faux finishes, Hotel Syracuse/Downtown Marriott, Syracuse, New York (New York Preservation League Award Winner)
• Conservation of Jules Breton Painting, restoration of antique frames, Mt. St. Vincent’s College, Riverdale, New York 
• Art and design direction, Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church in Baltimore, Maryland

View more of Spilio’s work here.

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