Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint Dimitrios in Jamaica, New York, on Sunday, October 25.
During the Divine Liturgy, the Archbishop elevated Father Konstantinos Kalogridis to the rank of Protopresbyter.
The Archbishop expressed his joy at serving the Divine Liturgy on the Eve of the Feast of your Patron Saint, the Holy Great-Martyr and Myrrh-Streamer Demetrios, which is the patron saint of the Parish of Jamaica in New York.
In his homily, the Archbishop pointed out: “Our military saints are always a challenge for the Church, for as the Lord said: ‘Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.’ Violence – in any form, should never be a solution for the Church; yet violence is the necessary element of all war. Our exemplary Saints, like Demetrios, were people of their times, who served with honor. But when their military service conflicted with their faith, they laid down their arms – their swords and spears – to take up the Cross of Christ.”
The Archbishop urged the faithful to away all violence of emotion, of mental opinion and prejudice, and the destructive feelings that hurt the Church.
He added: “Our spiritual battles are won in our hearts and spirits, where through the Weapon of Peace – the Invincible Cross – we overcome all enemies of self and other through love. This is the revelation of the Son of God in us. For, when we sacrifice our own wills, our own desires, and give up the negative emotions because ‘the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,’ then we are transformed into the persons that God always intended us to be.”