Elpidophoros will concelabrate the Divine Liturgy in the Monastery of Saint David the Elder to pay his respects to Venerable Saint Iakovos (Tsalikis), for whom he has great respect.
“It is like a votive offering for me,” says for the first time Archbishop Elpidophoros of America for the newspaper “Ethnos”.
The votive offering of the new Archbishop of America is related to a personal experience. However, what affects more the new Archbishop of America, Elpidophoros, is that shortly before his election by the Synod, there was another sign.
“The Secretary of the Synod brought me the last ecclesiastical act that I had to sign in my capacity as Metropolitan of Bursa. The act of canonization of Elder Iakovos Tsalikis was the last document I signed in the Code of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. I feel that the saint welcomed me, when I was unanimously elected Archbishop of America.
It was a sign that he gave me his blessing. I want, before I take up my duties, to worship his tomb, to officiate at the Divine Liturgy in his monastery, and to have his blessing,” said the new Archbishop of America, who felt moved.
As Elpidophoros explains, the Elder appeared in his dream. However, he did not know the cleric he had dreamt of. The only thing he could recall was his form. “Some days later I came across a picture of him and then I remembered that he was the priest I had seen in my dream. It was a blessing of God, that the saint was watching over me,” concludes Elpidophoros.