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The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announces that His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America has returned to the United States and the headquarters of the Sacred Archdiocese following a deeply meaningful pilgrimage to Constantinople, Mount Athos, and Thessaloniki with the graduating seniors of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.
During the final day of the pilgrimage, Archbishop Elpidophoros experienced a brief health concern and, out of an abundance of caution, received medical evaluation and care. With great joy it is announced that he has returned to the United States and is in excellent health.
His Eminence wishes to express his deepest gratitude and respect to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for his paternal love and fatherly concern. The Archbishop is especially thankful for the prayers and support of the Most Reverend Hierarchs, Members of the Holy Eparchial Synod of our Sacred Archdiocese, and to all its Hierarch for their prayers and concern.
Archbishop Elpidophoros also extends heartfelt appreciation to the Hierarchs serving the greater Thessaloniki region, His Eminence Metropolitan Barnabas of Neapolis and Stavroupolis, His Eminence Metropolitan Ioustinos of Nea Krini and Kalamaria, and His Eminence Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki, who immediately offered their fraternal support, concern, and assistance.
Special thanks are also extended to their Excellencies, the Minister of Defense of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Nikolaos Dendias and to the Minister of Health, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, for their personal concern and support. His Eminence further wishes to express his heartfelt gratitude to the Commander, Brigadier General Petros Toulios, the Deputy Commander Colonel Dimitrios Doxoglou, the attending physicians, Colonel Michael Papathanasiou, Lieutenant Colonel Dimitrios Giannoglou, the nursing staff, and all the personnel of the 424 General Military Hospital of Thessaloniki, as well as the first responders of the Hellenic National Emergency Medical Service (EKAB), for their exceptional professionalism and the truly exemplary care they provided, especially during a nationwide holiday weekend.
Finally, His Eminence expresses his sincere appreciation to the countless clergy, faithful, and people of goodwill who offered prayers and heartfelt well wishes.
Reflecting on this experience, Archbishop Elpidophoros stated:
“I departed from the sacred lands of Constantinople, Mount Athos, and Thessaloniki with a heart filled with gratitude to God. I return to the blessed United States of America and I give glory to Almighty God, who blessed us to complete this pilgrimage with the graduating seniors of our Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and to return to my beloved flock with renewed strength.
I express my filial gratitude to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for his fatherly love, unwavering concern, and tender care, which once again revealed the depth of his paternal sensitivity. The well wishes and love that I received during these days from His All-Holiness, my brother Hierarchs, the physicians who cared for me, and so many clergy and faithful are a living testimony that the grace of God is at work through His people.
I thank everyone for their concern and their precious prayers. By the grace of God, we continue the work of the Church with faith in the future and unwavering dedication to the mission entrusted to us: to serve every person and to bear witness to the Gospel of love and hope. With great joy, I look forward to gathering in just a few weeks with the dedicated clergy and faithful lay leaders of our Sacred Archdiocese at the Clergy-Laity Congress in Cleveland, Ohio, as together we continue to strengthen the ministries and witness of our Church throughout America. Glory to God for all things!”
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