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BUENOS AIRES — His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina, as the official representative of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, on the occasion of the celebrations commemorating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Holy Metropolis of Buenos Aires.
The celebrations honored three decades of ecclesiastical ministry and witness, recognizing the rich spiritual heritage of the Metropolis and its enduring mission in serving the Orthodox faithful of South America. Archbishop Elpidophoros conveyed the paternal love and blessings of His All-Holiness, joining His Eminence Metropolitan Iosif of Buenos Aires, the local Hierarchy, clergy, and faithful in giving thanks to Almighty God for this significant milestone in the life of the Church.
In his address, Archbishop Elpidophoros highlighted the completion of 35 years of Patriarchal ministry of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew the Great, under whose leadership the Metropolis was established in 1996. Reflecting on its missionary calling, he emphasized: “This is the true meaning of Orthodox mission. It is not simply the preservation of what we have inherited, precious though that inheritance may be. It is the courageous and loving transmission of that inheritance to those who have yet to encounter its beauty.”
As part of the commemorative celebrations, the episcopal ordination of His Grace Bishop Alexander of Nicopolis took place on Sunday, November 15, at the Dormition of the Theotokos Orthodox Cathedral in Buenos Aires. His Grace, who previously served as Vicar of the Slavic Vicariate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, has been canonically released from the Sacred Archdiocese of America and will henceforth serve as an Auxiliary Hierarch of the Holy Metropolis of Buenos Aires.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America extends its heartfelt congratulations and prayerful best wishes to His Grace Bishop Alexander of Nicopolis upon his consecration, expressing sincere gratitude for his dedicated service to the faithful of the Slavic Vicariate.
Under the pastoral leadership of His Eminence Metropolitan Iosif, the Holy Metropolis continues its sacred mission of nurturing the Orthodox faith throughout South America. The presence of Archbishop Elpidophoros, as the representative of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, reaffirmed the enduring spiritual bonds uniting the Holy Metropolis with the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Sacred Archdiocese of America.
As the Archbishop expressed in his concluding exhortation, “The greatest tribute we can offer to the generations who established this Metropolis is to ensure that the light they kindled will burn ever more brightly in the generations yet to come.”
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