Hierarchs belonging to the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America arrived on Saturday, September 28, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia for the Assembly’s 13th Annual Meeting.
This weekend’s meeting began last night with a Vespers service at St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, followed by a reception. There, parish priest Fr. Gabriel Tannous and Metropolitan Saba of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America offered welcoming remarks, as did Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, who presented Fr. Gabriel with a cross to highlight “the exceptional work and contributions of the priest of this parish, Fr. Gabriel Tannous and his Khouria Gabriella.” His Eminence prayed that God may “always prosper this sacred community, granting [them] to fulfill the fellowship of agape, of love.”
This morning, the hierarchs celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Atlanta. While addressing the community and hierarchs, Archbishop Elpidophorosthanked Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta for hosting the Assembly, and presented crosses and a broach to Protopresbyter Paul Kaplanis, Protopresbyter Christos Mars, and Cathedral Administrator Ginnie Rogan, and presented Dr. Gayle Woloschak a plaque on behalf of the Assembly.
Archbishop Elpidophoros also offered a prayers for those affected by Hurricane Helene, asking “that those whose lives have been lost will receive mercy before the Throne of God; that those who are bereaved of their loved ones may receive comfort in their hour of grieving; and that those whose lives have been upended…may experience the help and succor of neighbors, both known and unknown.”
Tomorrow, the 13th Annual Meeting of the Assembly of Bishops will continue in Atlanta.
Photos: GOARCH/Dimitrios Panagos.
