Phanar hierarch in US on a new Statute: “We thank the leader of Orthodoxy”

Archbishop Elpidophoros and Patriarch Bartholomew. Photo: romfea.gr

On October 9, 2020, the head of the Archdiocese of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the United States, Archbishop Elpidophoros, thanked the head of the Phanar for the suspension of the Archdiocese's Statute, Romfea reports.

According to the hierarch, due to this decision, "we have an excellent opportunity to restore our archdiocese from scratch."

“In the first hundred years (of the existence of the Archdiocese – Ed.), the great hierarchs headed the Archdiocese of America, of whom most outstanding was Athenagoras, who later became Patriarch, and Archbishop Michael, who united and strengthened our communities. Of course, Archbishop Jacob was the one who, over the 37 years of his archbishopric office, transformed our archdiocese, giving it a leading role in American society,” said Archbishop Elpidophoros.

He stressed that “today we feel happy, because with this decision (to suspend the Statute of the Archdiocese – Ed.) the Ecumenical Patriarchate gives us an excellent opportunity to jointly present and design our Church in connection with its 100th anniversary”.

Archbishop Elpidophoros assured that "clergy and laity will participate together in a joint committee with our patriarchy to develop a new statute for the next 100 years with new views on Orthodoxy in America."

He also said that in cooperation with Phanar, the Archdiocese will create a committee "to study the current needs and dynamics of our Archdiocese and prepare a plan for our new Statute."

According to Archbishop Elpidophoros, the decision to suspend the previous Statute is “God-inspired and auspicious, because it takes place a few days before the birthday of the blessed Archbishop Jacob, during which we recall the glorious past and prepare for a new century with new visions in order to strengthen our ministry and renew our cooperation."

“We are all grateful to the leader of Orthodoxy and to the Holy and Sacred Synod headed by him,” the hierarch emphasized.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that the Phanar Synod had suspended the Statute of its Archdiocese in the United States.

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