The resignation of our Spiritual Father and Shepherd, His Eminence Former Archbishop Geron of America Demetrios, as well as the election of the New Archbishop of America Elpidoforos, as to be expected, initiated numerous and various reactions. Many chose to express comments, criticism, estimates and opinions sometimes with discretion and sometimes without. This whole occasion made the words of St. Paul all the more contemporary: “Do not be wise in your own opinion” (Romans 12:16).
          Nonetheless, with the passing of these initial days, I believe, we have the obligation as members of the Living Body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to view the situation responsibly and in a loving spirit as it is appropriate among members of the Church.
            For two decades, our Most Beloved Former Archbishop of America Demetrios ministered the Holy Eparchy of the Church in America in peace and with absolute discretion. Even though, during the last two years of his ministry the negative voices, occasionally with bad intentions became more frequent, no one can deny that he worked diligently for the vineyard of our Lord Christ, always striving for peace and concord. In this present text, my intention is not to praise or scrutinize the ministry of Demetrios, however, as his brother and concelebrant in the awesome Mysteries of the Lord, I feel obliged to make this reference to his unpretentious kindness and of the unique quality of his ethos. His long Ministry, though discerning, as he stated in his resignation letter, “was not without human mistakes and probably mistaken actions” [1]. Nevertheless, even after his resignation he promised to keep ministering to the Church as a Bishop with the ministry of prayer, following the example of the Holy Hieromartyr Polycarp [2].
            Moreover, the sorrow of His Eminence stepping down from his position was followed immediately by his joy at the election of the New Archbishop of America, His Eminence Elpidoforos. Particularly for this reason, I would like to speak about the wisdom of the Patriarchate’s decision to move quickly with the election and filling the Archiepiscopal throne of America. In this way, the time period of vacancy was brief and kept to a minimum, avoiding any potential conflicts or unnecessary speculation. As always, and in this present circumstance, our Ecumenical Patriarchate demonstrated care and love for the Orthodox Church and for the Greek people in America.
            The Newly-elected Archbishop of America His Eminence Elpidophoros, was born in Constantinople and nourished in the court of the Ecumenical Throne. He is young and he has great potential, a formidable education, a very sound ethos and a great desire to minister to the Church. Although he is younger in age, His Eminence has a great deal of experience in many and various fields. Namely, the New Archbishop of America has served in the administration of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod as well as Metropolitan of Prusa. In addition, he has academic experience as a professor at the Aristotle University Theological School of Thessaloniki and as a visiting professor at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline Massachusetts. In the recent years, he served as the Dean of the Theological School of Chalki. There, in every possible way, he persisted in petitioning the Turkish government to re-open this prominent and Orthodox historical institution. Simultaneously, in Chalki, he also took over the Office of the Abbot of Holy Trinity Patriarchical Monastery.
            In my mind and heart, I firmly believe that he will offer a great deal to this lofty and demanding ministry of the Archdiocese of America, in which the Church has elected him. As a shepherd, imitating Christ’s example, and in a God pleasing way, he will minister to all the People.
            In closing, I want to ask from all of you the pious people of Atlanta Metropolis to pray for the stability of the Orthodox Church in America for the Clergy and the People and that God will enhance the work we do all together, as we serve in the vineyard of the Lord.
            With much love and prayers in our Risen Lord,