Archbishop Elpidophoros of America visited Detroit from Saturday, April 5, through Sunday, April 7, 2025 for a pastoral visit and to participate in the Detroit Greek Independence Day Parade.
The Archbishop was welcomed at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport by Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit. On Sunday, the Divine Liturgy and Doxology for March 25th Greek Independence Day was held at Annunciation Cathedral in Detroit, with the Presidential Guard of the Hellenic Republic in attendance. The Archbishop presided over the Doxology and Metropolitan Maximos of Ioanna presided over the Divine Liturgy. Also serving were g Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit, Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos, Dean of the Cathedral Fr. George Manias, Fr. Christopher Abell, Archdeacon Dionysios Papiris, and Deacon Steven Sarigianis.
In his remarks following the Doxology, the Archbishop thanked Metropolitan Maximos for his presence and for gifting the relics of St. George to the Cathedral:
“We are here at the Annunciation Cathedral in Greektown, Detroit, a historic location and legacy of the pioneers who came to this quintessentially American City, to begin a new life in the New World. Metropolitan Maximos is gracing the Cathedral today with Holy Relics of Saint George the New Martyr of Ioannina. This courageous and stalwart Solider of Christ braved torture and death, but never – not even of a moment – hesitated in his confession. His last words were: ‘I am a Christian and I shall die a Christian, I bow before my Christ and my Lady Theotokos.’ His confession, echoing through the centuries, will strengthen you when you feel faint in your faith, when you waver in your minds, and when your soul is troubled. We thank His Eminence for bringing these Precious Relics here to Detroit, where they will be enshrined within the Cathedral, and all Orthodox Christians may have the honor to venerate them and to receive the grace of Saint George the New Martyr.”
In the afternoon, Their Eminences participated in the colorful and exuberant Greek Independence Day Parade in Greektown with the Presidential Guard of the Hellenic Republic, the Evzones, the Consul of Greece in Chicago Georgia Tasilopoulou, the Mayor of the City of Detroit Mike Duggan, and Deputy Mayor Melia Howard. Also participating were thirty parishes, societies and Hellenes who marched with pride to show their love of Greece and their patriotic pride and their honor of our roots.
Photos: Orthodox Observer/Diak. Theophani Sarigiani.
