A message of unity and hope was given by the new Archbishop of America, Elpidophoros, addressing his statement to the people of the Holy Archdiocese, in view of his enthronement on June 22.
As he points out, he expresses his love for “the precious flock of the Holy Archdiocese of America,” promising that in the coming days and weeks, “we will all be learning about one another.”
He stresses that he has received and continues to receive warm greetings and messages of congratulations from across America.
“You will learn things about me, but what I want you to know is that I am coming to America not only to be your Archbishop, but I am coming to be your spiritual friend and brother, your co-worker and servant in the Lord,” he says.
He emphasizes that he is giving the Christians in America the blessing of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
“I am coming to you as your brother in Christ. And on June 22, at my Enthronement, I look forward to embracing our ecumenical and interfaith friends as well, and the whole pluralistic American society that values freedom of conscience and religious liberty with such intensity. We have much to accomplish together, and by God’s grace, we must surely be victorious.”