Archbishop Elpidophoros of America was proclaimed an Honorary Citizen of the Municipality of Pinios, by a unanimous decision of the Municipal Council, following the recommendation of Mayor Andreas Marinos.
“It is a great day for our Municipality,” said Mayor Andreas Marinos, who, together with Metropolitan Athanasios of Ilia and clergymen of the Holy Metropolis, welcomed at 10.15 am the Archbishop of America and his associates.
The Mayor then in the presence of the Metropolitan of Ilia, the President of the Council, Mr. Vassiliou, the Deputy Mayors and his associates had a very warm meeting with the Archbishop of America. The former Mayor, Mr. Kostas Lourbas, gave Archbishop Elpidophoros an elegant version of his book on the history of Gastouni, while the Archbishop gave the Mayor an icon of Christ.
Then, they headed to the Kourvissianio Cultural Center where the event of the proclamation of the Archbishop of America as an Honorary Citizen of the Municipality took place.
Τhe decision of the Council was read by the president Mr. Vasileiou.
The Mayor delivered a speech and then announced the decision to declare the Archbishop of America an Honorary Citizen and handed him a symbolic gift for both himself and his mother Konstantina who accompanied him to Ilia but was not present due to the heatwave.
Archbishop Elpidophoros thanked Mr. Andreas Marinos for his speech and was proclaimed Honorary Citizen by the President of the Council. In his speech, the Archbishop made an extensive reference to the work of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Finally, he thanked both the Metropolitan of Ilia and the Mayor of Pinios for the warm ceremony.
Source and photo credtis: dimos-pineiou.gr
