The meeting of the Archdiocesan Council of the Holy Archdiocese of America continues for the second day in Atlanta, Georgia. Despite the fact that the event had been set for months, the first day was dominated by the resignation of Archbishop Demetrios of America, with effect from Saturday, May 11.
The Archbishop was welcomed to the meeting with a warm applause. He thanked the members of the Executive Board of the Council by name.
Archbishop Demetrios referred to the rebuilding of St. Nicholas at Manhattan Ground Zero.
“An Archdiocese of this magnitude, compared to others, should not allow the state of St. Nicholas to remain as it is,” he said, while appealing to everyone to make every possible effort to advance the work.
The second topic he mentioned was the Theological School, which also faces financial problems, and said that this is the case when there are a number of legacies with significant reserves operating alongside the Archdiocese.
Election of a new archbishop
As it became known, on Thursday, the Ecumenical Patriarchate requested in writing from the Archdiocesan Council to produce a list of five candidates until Friday afternoon to be considered by the Holy Synod before its meeting in the Phanar on Saturday.
According to information, at the meeting of the Archdiocesan Council, there was a briefing on the statute and the “uniform regulations”. Pursuant to the regulations “a special delegation will be appointed to personally deliver the consultation to the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.” The regulations also provide who will constitute this committee – of seven members- while, at the same time, provides that “within 10 days it will have to report to the Archdiocesan Council on the content of its talks with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the results.”
In order to observe the Statute of the Archdiocese, the time given for the election of the new Archbishop of America this Saturday is not enough.
Under Article 12 of the Statute, the Locum Tenens appointed by the Ecumenical Patriarch must be the oldest member of the Holy Eparchial Synod – in this case Metropolitan Methodios of Boston- and in the case of declaring himself unable, the next in rank will be appointed.
Source: ANA-MPA