“It is my joy to be in this community — so full, so alive, so devoted,” he said. “Saint Demetrios is the one who gathers us. He is the reason we come here to pray and to venerate. We are all passing through; only the Saint remains.”
Archbishop Elpidophoros acknowledged the difficulties the parish had faced, describing them as the kind of trials “that come to every family, to every community.” He recalled how, as signs of fatigue began to appear, His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos — whom he praised as “a man already carrying so many responsibilities” — volunteered to assist. “He came himself, without being asked, simply to help,” said Archbishop Elpidophoros, adding that Bishop Athenagoras’ arrival marked the beginning of a determined effort to restore order and trust.
A Plan Built on Experience
Drawing parallels between the parish’s challenges and those once faced by the Archdiocese itself, the Archbishop explained that the Archdiocese’s own experience in overcoming financial distress provided the model for intervention in Astoria.
“A few years ago, our Archdiocese went through a crisis,” he said. “God sent capable people who put our house in order, and today we are proud of our finances. Having a team that knows how this is done, we came here to do the same — to help this community.”
He emphasized that the Executive Committee of the Archdiocesan Council — comprising members from across the country — had convened multiple times specifically for St. Demetrios. “All of America has mobilized to help Astoria,” he said. “How could we not show gratitude to a parish that has given our Church more than forty priests?”
Moving Beyond “Fake News”
Archbishop Elpidophoros addressed the turbulence and misinformation that accompanied the crisis. “When people learned what was happening, the so-called ‘fake news’ spread faster than the truth,” he said. “If you tell the truth, no one transmits it; but if you tell something distorted or false, it goes from mouth to mouth. Yet the Saint is great, and truth always wins in the end.”
He confirmed that since the agreement establishing a framework for Archdiocesan oversight was signed, the parish has begun to regain financial stability — and, notably, to receive new private support. “The very next day, two of the most generous families of Astoria came to my office,” he recounted. “They placed their offering on the table and asked that their names not be mentioned. Saint Demetrios knows, and that is enough.”
A School That Still Shines
Looking ahead, Archbishop Elpidophoros expressed confidence that both the parish and its school are on solid ground. “The community is on a good path,” he said. “Our school is doing very well. It has not fallen at all in quality, in organization, or in Hellenic education.”
He described the children who recited the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer during the service as “the true face of Astoria — full of enthusiasm, faith, and courage.” Their presence, he said, embodied the very reason the Archdiocese intervened: to ensure that St. Demetrios, as both a parish and a school, continues to flourish as a center of faith and learning for generations to come.
From Crisis to Continuity
St. Demetrios has long been a cornerstone of Greek Orthodox life in New York — spiritually, culturally, and educationally. But in recent years, the parish struggled under the weight of accumulated debt and management challenges. In 2024, the Archdiocese established an oversight plan, committing to provide liquidity while preserving local control and introducing transparent financial stewardship.
The Archbishop’s return to Astoria this week signaled not only spiritual encouragement but administrative confidence. “We have entered into order,” he said. “There is still ground to cover, but with faith and good will, we will succeed. The finances we will fix.”
As he concluded, his message was both pastoral and practical — a blend of reassurance and accountability:
“With the grace of Saint Demetrios, we move forward. We are optimistic. We believe in the Saint, and we believe in your faith. In the end, truth always wins — and when it does, we all win.”
