In the presence of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and his predecessor, Elder Archbishop Demetrios, as well as representatives of the Greek diplomatic corps, the book “Archbishop Demetrios of America – The Second Decade 2009–2019” was officially presented. The publication is a collaborative work by Dimitrios Panagos, official photographer of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and journalist-publisher Revekka Papadopoulou.
The event featured addresses by Archbishop Elpidophoros, who placed the event under his official auspices, Archbishop Demetrios, and both authors.
In his remarks Archbishop Elpidophoros honored the legacy of his predecessor and Dimitri and Revekka saying,
“The occasion of the publication, and now presentation, of Archbishop Demetrios: The Second Decade 2009 – 2019, is certainly a cause of joy and reflection.
This record of the final δεκαετία of Archbishop Demetrios’ archiepiscopal ministry in America, compiled by Dimitris and Rebecca, is a worthy companion to the first volume, which spanned the very significant first decade, hallmarked by the terrorist attacks of September Eleventh. This second tome, which is as weighty as one might imagine from its size and page count, represents the concluding years of His Eminence’s Archpastoral mission in the United States. With this visual record, the nearly twenty years of His Eminence’s tenure is chronicled in colorful and artful detail.”
Also addressing those gathered, Archbishop Demetrios thanked those present and spoke emotionally about his years serving the Church in America.
Spanning 560 pages and featuring 1,071 color photographs, the book chronicles the pastoral ministry and public engagements of Archbishop Demetrios during his second decade of leadership.
Through the photographic lens of Dimitrios Panagos, the volume captures pivotal moments in the Archbishop’s ministry, including meetings with two U.S. Presidents—Barack Obama and Donald Trump—as well as significant visits by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece.
Dimitrios Panagos noted that the creation of this comprehensive volume was a project two and a half years in the making. His wife, Revekka Papadopoulou, undertook the painstaking task of selecting the final images from thousands in their archive, shaping the book into a visual and historical testimony of a decade of ecclesiastical service.
The event, held at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City, was attended by many friends and colleagues who took the opportunity to remember the service and legacy of Archbishop Demetrios.
In attendance were Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh, Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey, National Chancellor His Grace Bishop Nektarios of Diokleia, Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos, Bishop Anthony of Synada, Bishop Irinej of Washington-New York and Eastern America (Serbian Orthodox Church), Permanent Representative at Permanent Delegation of Greece to UN in New York Evangelos Sekeris, Dean of the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Archimandrite Chrysostomos Gilbert, Archdiocesan District Chancellor Fr. Elias Villis, Archbishop Demetrios’ brother Dr. Anthony Trakatellis and his wife Tanya, clergy from the area, and friends. Present also was the book’s sponsor Archon Christos Spyropoulos.Photos: Douglas Ioannis, Tom Galanis, and Orthodox Observer/Dimitrios Panagos.
