Communiqué of the Holy Eparchial Synod, June 29, 2026

Yesterday, June 29, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over an extraordinary session of the Holy Eparchial Synod in Cleveland, Ohio, convened in conjunction with the 48th Clergy-Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

At the opening of the session, His Eminence welcomed the esteemed members of the Holy Eparchial Synod to the Clergy-Laity Congress of the Archdiocese. He announced the unprecedented number of clergy and lay delegates from the parishes participating in the Congress and, after emphasizing its importance for the life of the local Church, expressed his prayers for the success of its proceedings.

His Eminence expressed his profound gratitude to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for the representation of His All-Holiness and the Mother Church at the 48th Clergy-Laity Congress by His Eminence Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria, His Eminence Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki, and the Very Reverend Grand Archimandrite Iakovos.

The Holy Synod subsequently addressed the matters on its agenda and, among other things:

• Invited the Honorable Archon Theodore Nikolakis, Director of National Ministries, to make a presentation. Mr. Nikolakis briefed the Holy Synod on a grant application to Lilly Endowment intended to support the establishment of new parishes throughout the United States. The Holy Synod approved the application and expressed its prayers for a favorable outcome. It was noted that several Metropolises of the Holy Archdiocese are already establishing new ecclesiastical communities. A notable example of this is the Holy Metropolis of Denver, where four new parishes have recently been established successfully.
• Determined that instruction in the Greek language should be offered to seminarians of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston by accredited educational institutions whose programs are compatible with the official certification of proficiency in Greek. In addition, Holy Cross was encouraged to revise its method of teaching liturgical Greek, which is especially necessary for the clear reading and proper delivery of the Gospel readings and liturgical texts.
• Presented the revised edition of the service book of the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom.
• Extended customary name-day greetings to His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey.

At the conclusion of the session, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and the Synodal Hierarchs exchanged heartfelt greetings for the Feast of the Holy Apostles.

From the Chief Secretariat