Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over the ordination of Bishop Timothy of Hexamilion at Saints Constantine and Helen Church in Merrillville, Indiana, on Saturday, December 5. As reported by The National Herald, The Archbishop was accompanied by Metropolitans Alexios of Atlanta, Nathanael of Chicago, Ilia of Philomelion (Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America), and Bishop Sebastian of Zila (Assistant Bishop to Metropolis of Atlanta) and many priests from the Metropolis of Chicago. The COVID-19 preventive measures were observed.
In his homily, Archbishop Elpidophoros addressed the Bishop-elect Timothy, emphasizing that “your name means ‘the honor of God’ and it is the name of a renown and saintly Bishop, a spiritual son of the Apostle Paul, who is mentioned numerous times in the New Testament. As a Bishop of the Church of God, you are called to inspire the Faithful to seek after the experience of the one, true God. Your life is to be an open book to the clergy and laity alike, where they may read the narrative of your virtues that will spur them on in their spiritual life: through the Sacraments, through prayer, through the whole liturgy of the Church, and through their deep yearning for transfiguration in Christ.”
In his reply, the newly ordained Bishop of Hexamilion thanked Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the members of the Holy Synod, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, the members of the Eparchial Synod, the priests and the faithful present.
He stressed that “I will continue to minister to the work of the Great Church of Christ as defined by the canons, traditions and teachings of the Church Fathers.”