By Amelia Antzoulatos
“Breaking ground is more than a symbolic act. It is a step of deep belief and a sign of hope for a better future. Especially in this centennial year of our Sacred Archdiocese, your act of faith today bodes well for the next one hundred years of our Church in America,” Archbishop Elpidophoros of America declared during the groundbreaking ceremony at Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Resurrection – Brookville, NY, on Sunday, May 8, 2022.
The Archdiocesan District community, which currently comprises 460 families, ratified the project in the Spring of 2018 to facilitate the ministry needs of the growing church and the Archdiocese approved the plan earlier this year. Sunday’s groundbreaking marked the commencement of construction of an athletic center, four classrooms for religious and Greek education, and expansion of the hall.
“Our Church buildings and facilities are not mere institutions. They are our homes—where we gather as one family in Christ; where we grow as the Body of Christ; where we assemble as the Church of God; and where we welcome others into our presence – with love, compassion, acceptance, and understanding,” the Archbishop explained.
The groundbreaking immediately followed Sunday of the Myrrh Bearing Women’s Divine Liturgy. Present with the Archbishop were the parish’s presiding priest Protopresbyter Panteleimon Papadopoulos, and former presiding priest Protopresbyter Andreas Vithoulkas, as well as Parish Council President Stephanie Clark and the members of the Holy Resurrection Parish Council, the Ladies Philoptochos Society, Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, members of Leadership 100, and the congregation of Holy Resurrection.
Read below the speech of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America
“Beloved in the Risen Lord,
Protopresbyter Panteleimon Papadopoulos,
Protopresbyter Andreas Vithoulkas,
President Clark and Members of the Parish Council,
Beloved Sisters of Philoptochos,
Esteemed Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,
Honored Members of Leadership 100,
Dear Parishioners of Holy Resurrection,
Χριστὸς Ἀνέστη!
Christ is Risen!
What a marvelous afternoon to break ground for this vital addition to the Church of the Holy Resurrection!
Breaking ground is more than a symbolic act. It is a step of deep belief and a sign of hope for a better future. Especially in this centennial year of our Sacred Archdiocese, your act of faith today bodes well for the next one hundred years of our Church in America!
Like every farmer who breaks open the earth to plant the seeds that will grow and nourish the world, you are planting seeds today that will yield a harvest – as the Lord said, even to a hundredfold.[*]
As your Archbishop, I know that you will water and nurture the seeds you are planting with this groundbreaking. For the seeds I see are the faces of the beloved people of this parish – both young and old alike.
Our Church buildings and facilities are not mere institutions. They are our homes. Where we gather as one family in Christ. Where we grow as the Body of Christ. Where we assemble as the Church of God. And where we welcome others into our presence – with love, compassion, acceptance and understanding.
Therefore, my beloved friends,
Let us cultivate this wonderful field here in Brookville, on the Long Island of New York. Let us grow a harvest of community service and ministry that is based in love and mercy. And let us always welcome the strangers into our midst, and make them our friends.
Congratulations to all!
Χριστὸς Ἀνέστη!”
[*] Cf. Luke 10:8.
