Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in Athens. He also led a memorial service in honor of the victims of the tragic invasion of Cyprus and all other martyrs who lost their lives due to religious persecution.
In attendance were Fr. Alex Karloutsos, Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium, and Metropolitan Theodoritos of Laodicea, the representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Athens.
In his sermon, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America remarked that, on the occasion of the Sunday of the Paralytic, the paralytic was not merely a patient whom we all tend to avoid identifying with.
He reminded the congregation that we often forget, no matter how good we believe we are, that it is the Lord who heals our ailments. These ailments frequently paralyze our souls and prevent us from finding the path of repentance and following the Lord. That’s why what we lack is someone to encourage us and remind us of who we once were.
When we see our inability to respond to the Lord’s love, we become paralyzed and surrender to the current, instead of resisting and going against the flow.
Right now, we need someone—or we can become that someone—to encourage us, not to dismiss us. Just as the Lord rewarded the persistence of the paralytic, we should strive to be the ones who reach out.
Let us become the people who will reach out to our fellow human being. This is the message we will carry with us from today’s service.”
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Elpidophoros addressed the congregation, touching upon the upcoming Archons’ Conference, following which a memorial service for the victims of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus was held.
As he stressed, “Where else could the Conference commence if not from Athens, the Motherland itself. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, who graciously granted us permission to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in Athens, particularly in the Metropolitan Church of Athens.
I would like to extend my gratitude to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for entrusting me with the responsibility to represent him. When we hear our Ecumenical Patriarchate proclaim “I have no man,” it’s truly moving to witness the unwavering support of all these Archons, ensuring that the Patriarch’s outstretched hand is never left empty.
This year, we could not be in Athens without acknowledging the somber anniversary of the illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus, marking 50 years since the tragic event. I invite Vice-President of AHEPA, Savvas Tsivikos, to share a few words with us.”
Tsivikos then addressed the audience, emphasizing that the Turkish invasion of Cyprus resulted in a national agony, with 200,000 refugees displaced from their homes. “And we must remember that Cyprus is not far away.
Turkey is testing our limits. The Ecumenical Patriarchate is under siege, our two monuments have been converted into mosques.
United, we have nothing to fear as we steadfastly defend the rightful rights of the Greek people, and we eagerly await the liberation of Cyprus.
Hellenism has gleaned wisdom from enduring struggles throughout its history. Let us not forget that it was the Greeks of the Diaspora who ignited the flames of the Revolution of 1821.
As Greeks of the Diaspora, it is incumbent upon us to uphold Greece and Orthodoxy. Now, our obligation and duty are even greater, especially given our presence in America.
It is a pity that the United Nations has forgotten the Cyprus issue. What happened in Cyprus echoes a similar tragedy that occurred two years ago in Ukraine. The Russians employed familiar pretexts, mirroring those previously used by Turkey. And as Greeks, if we forget, we are condemned to repeat them. Let us stand united to prevent such calamities from befalling us again. We must all have common goals and not forget those who gave their lives for freedom.
We do not kneel, we do not capitulate; we persist until the sun of freedom shines over the entirety of Cyprus.”
The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate were also present in the church, participating in the context of the Fourth Conference of the Archons for Religious Freedom, scheduled to take place on May 26-28 in Athens.
The Conference will cover urgent issues, such as the way the Ecumenical Patriarchate is treated, the growing wave of authoritarianism, its impact on religious communities as well as the role of religion in geopolitics.
The Conference is co-chaired by Archon Athanasios Martinos, President of the Brotherhood of Pammakaristos of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Europe, and Archon Dr. Antonios Lyberakis, National Commander of the Archons of America.
