Archbishop Elpidophoros of America departed for Constantinople following the celebration of the Dormition of the Theotokos at the eponymous Church in Southampton.
This will be the Archbishop’s first visit of 2020, the last time he was there was for the Feast of the First-Called Apostle Andrew in November of 2019.
The Archbishop will remain abroad through the Beginning of the Ecclesiastical Year (1 September) and will be at the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the Feast of the Indiction. This feast also includes the annual observance of the “Day of Environmental Protection.”
Upon his return, the Archbishop will convene the 2020 Clergy-Laity Congress, the first one ever held in a virtual setting.