Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided at the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at St. Nicholas Church in Newburgh, NY where he was welcomed by the presiding priest Archimandrite Ioannikios Gregoriades and community members.
In his Homily the Archbishop remarked, “I am so happy to be with you all today, the faithful Orthodox Christians of this wonderful Saint Nicholas Parish here in Newburgh.
Your Heavenly Patron’s feast was just two days ago, and I know you still feel the blessings of his spiritual presence.
Indeed, the blessings of Saint Nicholas are many! And why should it not be so? We call him ‘the canon of the Faith and the icon of gentleness,’ κανόνα πίστεως καὶ εἰκόνα πραότητος, for he is an ever-flowing fountain of Christian virtue and steadfastness.
And we see how these characteristics manifested in the story of his participation at the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, how his gentleness was constrained by his canonical adherence to the Faith.”
Photos: GOARCH/Dimitrios Panagos
