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His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America addressed the 2026 Clergy-Laity Congress organizing committee in virtual meeting, today October 2, 2025. The Clergy-Laity Congress will be held in Cleveland from June 30, 2026- July 2, 2026 with the theme, “Rise and Build” ((Nehemiah 2:18)). In his remarks to the full Committee the Archbishop thanked Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh, Chairs of the Congress John and Effie Trihas, Philoptochos Convention Chair Anna Vedouras and all of the members for undertaking the responsibility of hosting the biennial Clergy-Laity Congress.
In announcing the mission to rebuild the Congress by focusing on the growth and empowerment of parishes so that all faithful across the country are included, not only clergy and delegates, His Eminence said,“ The Clergy-Laity Congress is not just for the delegates, but an opportunity for the fullness of the Church – τό Πλήρωμα τῆς Ἐκκλησίας – to come together, to learn, to grow, and to make our Sacred Archdiocese of America better than ever. We want to inspire our faithful, so that, as the Scripture says, ‘their hands will be strengthened for the good work’ of the Church. We are still charting our path for the next century of existence as the First Eparchy of the Ecumenical Throne in the New World, and we must do so together.”
Also offering welcome remarks were Metropolitan Savas, the Chairs of the Congress and Convention, and Treasurer of the Archdiocese Elaine Allen. Rev. Evagoras Constantinides, Clergy-Laity Congress Coordinator, followed by introducing the key members of the Committee and offering an overview of the preparations that have been initiated thus far.
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