Over his recent visit to Istanbul, Türkiye, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America visited three recently-restored sites, all of which were renovated with the generous funding of Greek American Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Ahead of the Holy Synaxis of the Hierarchy of the Ecumenical Throne, on August 31, 2024, His Eminence joined his fellow hierarchs at the Presentation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church of Stavrodromi, where His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew held an Agiasmos Service for the cathedral’s new “cells,” or lodging.
Originally constructed for monastic and clerical use in 1560 before being destroyed in a 1978 fire, these cells were restored thanks to a million-dollar donation from Greek American Archon George Marcus, who was invested as an Archon in 1991 and holds the titles of Exarchos and Founder of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation. Prior to supporting the restoration of the cathedral’s cells, Marcus also contributed $500,000 to the restoration of the church itself. In addition to these donations, Marcus’s philanthropic work includes support for the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute, the Metropolis of San Francisco, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), Leadership 100, and the Elios Society, as well as his founding of the National Hellenic Society, for which he remains Chairman Emeritus.
Before officially opening the cells, Parish President George Papaliaris and His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew addressed the inauguration attendees, thanking both Marcus and His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America for their efforts toward the restoration. His All-Holiness also presented Marcus with an honorary plaque, which His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco accepted on his behalf. Thanks to the generosity of Archon Marcus the Greek Orthodox Community of Stavrodromi can once again host pilgrims and guests.
The following day, September 1, 2024, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America attended the Divine Liturgy of the Feast of the New Indiction, over which His All-Holiness presided at the Patriarchal Church of St. George. After welcoming the Ecclesiastical New Year by signing the Act of the New Indiction, His All-Holiness and the Hierarchy of the Ecumenical Throne inaugurated the recently-renovated Patriarchal Maraslion School, located next to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Phanar district of Istanbul.
At the inauguration, benefactors and Archons George Marcus and Peter Palivos were honored for their contributions to the restoration. In the days just preceding the inauguration, the school welcomed its first conference when it hosted the Halki Summit VI, a summit presented by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and focused on Orthodox Christian approaches to environmentalism. This hosting of the Halki Summit is a significant indication of the space for Orthodox Christian discussion and learning the school has created, particularly in the continued closure of the nearby Theological School of Halki.
Discussing his contribution to the renovation, Archon Palivos compared the importance of the school’s protection to that of the Acropolis of Athens, remarking that both “define our history and heritage…Opening the Patriarchal Municipal School of Maraslis will help educate hundreds of Greek Orthodox Christian children and help preserve our Christian faith in Constantinopolis.” He also thanked His All-Holiness and His Eminence for requesting his assistance, noting that it was their “leadership, vision, and love for the Mother Church” that so inspired him to contribute.
Archon Palivos, who will be invested on October 20, 2024, is renowned for his commitment to philanthropy as well as the Hellenic community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, he contributed 10,000 meals to first responders, police, fire and the poor, stating “we all have a moral and ethical duty to help and support others, especially the people that risk their lives to keep our country safe.” He is also a founding member of the Greek American Rehabilitation & Care Centre, for which he provided pro bono legal services to enable the center to obtain its operating license.
Following the conclusion of the Holy Synaxis of the Hierarchy of the Ecumenical Throne, His Eminence also visited the island of Halki near Istanbul, Türkiye, where he visited a third site recently restored by a Greek American Archon: the Skete of Metamorphosis Chapel. Archon Dr. Steve Yiallourakis was invested as an Archon in 2005 and conferred with the offikion, Aktourarios, serving on the National Council since 2006. Archon Yiallourakis and his wife Dr. Anna Yiallourakis have shown an enduring dedication to the restoration of this chapel, having funded both its original restoration and, after its 2007 vandalization, this second restoration.
In addition to funding this chapel’s restoration, Archon Yiallourakis has contributed to the Church locally, nationally, and internationally; he has been a member of Leadership 100 since 2000 and led the first Leadership 100 initiation in Tennessee alongside his wife, Anna. Additionally, after participating in a 2004 pilgrimage to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Drs. Yiallourakis were moved to promote education regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate to Orthodox faithful. In 2007, they began the publication First Among Equals and in 2012 contributed a mailing of this publication to all parishes, clergy, Sunday school educators and Archons nationwide; in 2013, they funded the placement of this publication in nearly 160,000 issues of the Orthodox Observer.
The Skete of Metamorphosis chapel, part of the Transfiguration of Christ Our Savior Monastery, was under His Eminence’s responsibility during his eight years as Abbot of the Theological School of Halki’s Holy Trinity Monastery (2011-2019), making this restoration particularly meaningful for him. His Eminence marveled at the beautiful chapel, recalling the many liturgies he celebrated outside at the site before its renovation.
Visiting the restorations, His Eminence remarked with gratitude at the generosity of the Greek American faithful, marveling that his fellow members of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America “not only take care of their own churches…but we also take care of our Mother Church in Constantinople.” These recent efforts by Greek Americans likewise reflect His Eminence’s recent affirmation of the “global role of the Mother Church” – contributing to restorations in Constantinople, our Greek American Archons exemplify the connection of Greek Americans to our Mother Church which His Eminence hopes to nurture. Axioi!
Photos: Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and GOARCH/Dimitrios Panagos and Corinna Robinson.
SOURCE; GOARCH.ORG
