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NEW YORK — His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America received Spyros Koulkoudinas, a member of the Hellenic Parliament for Pieria, at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s headquarters in Manhattan on Wednesday, October 14, for a discussion of Orthodox faith, Greek heritage and public service. Koulkoudinas, a New Democracy lawmaker, is visiting New York for the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Parliamentarian Dialogue Program, which runs through October 16. The program examines how lawmakers can connect the needs of their communities with international cooperation and global governance.
Koulkoudinas spoke of his family’s roots in Asia Minor and the role of faith and tradition in sustaining Greek communities through displacement and hardship. The conversation also touched on the personal demands of service during the the COVID-19 pandemic. Koulkoudinas, a pharmacist, recalled caring for patients while fearing that he might bring the virus home to his infant child. The Archbishop reflected on the Church’s adaptation during that period, including Synod meetings held by videoconference, a step without precedent at the time that has since become part of regular practice. Looking ahead, he described the Archdiocese’s efforts to strengthen its ministries, services and scholarships, emphasizing the importance of transparent financial management in sustaining the confidence and support of the faithful.
“We are all striving to do our duty,” the Archbishop said.
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