The Spring Sessions of the Archdiocesan Council and the Philoptochos Council of the Holy Archdiocese of Canada were held with great success.
On Saturday, May 10, 2025, the Archdiocesan Philoptochos of Canada Council convened under the presidency of Mrs. Zoe Veroutis. Twenty-eight (28) ladies and young women of the Council gathered from across the country and engaged in a full day of deliberations.
The session commenced with prayer and proceeded through all the items on the agenda.
Archbishop Sotirios of Canada offered the opening prayer and followed with a biblical reading from the Acts of the Apostles (20:33–38). The discussion centered on the verse: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Archbishop Sotirios then provided pastoral guidance regarding the mission of the Philoptochos. The meeting continued under the inspired leadership of President Veroutis. The work of the Philoptochos throughout Canada is advancing in an admirable and praiseworthy manner. Warm congratulations are extended to the president, the Archdiocesan Council of the Philoptochos Sisterhood, and all sixty-five (65) local Philoptochos chapters across Canada.
That same afternoon, Archbishop Sotirios, Bishop Athenagoras of Patara, and the two priests serving our Hellenic Homes for the Aged, Fr. Spyridon Vitouladitis and Fr. Konstantinos Chialtas, celebrated Vespers in honour of Saints Cyril and Methodius at their dedicated Church in the second Hellenic Home for the Aged. His Eminence offered an inspired homily on the theme: “The Paralytic of the Gospel and the Elderly in our Hellenic Homes,” drawing attention to the lament of the paralytic who, after thirty-eight (38) years of suffering, remarked: “I have no one.” In contrast, our elderly in Canada are blessed with the loving care provided by our Hellenic Homes for the Aged and we express our heartfelt gratitude to their administrative leadership.
On Monday, May 12th, the Archdiocesan Council convened once more under the presidency of Archbishop Sotirios, with the participation of the Honourable Consul General of Greece in Toronto, Mr. Ioannis Chatzantonakis and Bishop Athenagoras. Mr. Chatzantonakis spoke briefly and conveyed the message and love of Homeland Greece.
The Archdiocesan Council comprises twenty-five (25) committees; thirty-four (34) members participated, representing communities from coast to coast.
The session began with prayer and a scriptural reading. Proceedings continued throughout the day, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., in a dignified and Orthodox spirit, during which important decisions were made.
It is worth noting that Canada is a vast nation, second in geographical size only to Russia. Seventy-six (76) Greeces could fit within the territory of Canada. The seventy-eight (78) Communities of our Holy Archdiocese are dispersed across this immense land.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Archbishop Sotirios expressed his gratitude to all participants. Together, they glorified the Triune God for all the blessings bestowed upon the Holy Archdiocese of Canada. His Eminence also conveyed the love and blessings of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and all present chanted the traditional pheme in his honour.
The session concluded with prayer.
