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  For Immediate Release
  April 3, 2005

  METROPOLITAN GERASIMOS OF SAN FRANCISCO ENTHRONED

  San Francisco, CA - His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos was enthroned
  today as Metropolitan of San Francisco during a solemn ceremony at the
  Annunciation Cathedral in Oakland, CA.  His Eminence Archbishop
  Demetrios, Archbishop of America and Exarch of the Ecumenical
  Patriarchate, presided over the ceremony which was attended by more than
  1500 faithful and clergy from the Metropolis and from across the country.

  The Enthronement Ceremony began outside the Cathedral with the official
  offering of the proper archpastoral staff by Archbishop Demetrios to
  Metropolitan Gerasimos as a symbolism of pastoral and administrative
  responsibilities.

  During the service the Archbishop read a letter from Ecumenical Patriarch
  Bartholomew.  In his letter to Metropolitan Gerasimos, the Patriarch
  among other things stated,  "The Church, through our Humility, fervently
  prays for the generous illumination and the grace of the Most Holy Spirit
  for the benefit of a God-loving fruitful pastoral diaconia in the Holy
  Metropolis that was entrusted to you, for the glory of the Triune God,
  joy and praise of the Great Holy Mother Church of Christ and salvation of
  the souls of your pious flock?Walk in brotherly love and cooperation with
  His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of America, the brother Hierarchs, the
  clergy and the laity, in order that you be blessed in your assigned task
  and glorify our Triune worshipped God, to Whom the glory, the honor and
  the worship belong to the ages of ages. Amen."

  Archbishop Demetrios also offered words of instruction to Metropolitan
  Gerasimos, quoting directly from the special Epistle of Apostle Paul to
  the young Bishop Timothy:   "Be for the believers a model in speech, in
  conduct, in love, in faith, in purity? Attend to the public reading of
  the Scripture, to comforting practice, to preaching, to teaching" (1
  Timothy 4:12-13)? But the purpose of the instruction is love that issues
  from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."  (1 Timothy
  1:5) His Eminence closed his comments by offering a gift of a cross for
  blessing, and exclaiming, "Axios!" "Worthy!"

  Responding to these remarks in his Enthronement speech, Metropolitan
  Gerasimos stated, "Beloved clergy and faithful in this Metropolis, I come
  to you as a servant of God.	My entire life is marked by our Lord's
  words:  'I am among you as one who serves.'	As such, I embrace you with
  joy and gratitude for accepting me as one of your own?  As I extend my
  hand to work with you in our Lord's Vineyard, I rejoice to be among you,
  to build, to grow, to harvest."

  Attending  the Enthronement Ceremony were Metropolitan Maximos of
  Pittsburgh, Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, Metropolitan Paisios of Tyana,
  Bishops John of Amorion and Anthimos of Olympos, Ecumenical
  Representatives, including Archbishop William Levada of the Roman
  Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco, public officials including the
  California State Treasurer Phil Angelides and members of Metropolitan
  Gerasimos' family including his brother and sister-in-law, Mr. & Mrs.
  Peter Michaleas.

  Following the Enthronement Ceremony, a luncheon was held at the Church
  Center where a number of dignitaries offered their welcome to
  Metropolitan Gerasimos.  On Sunday, April 3, Metropolitan Gerasimos
  presided at his first Divine Liturgy as Metropolitan at the Annunciation
  Cathedral in San Francisco, CA and offered, with Archbishop Demetrios, a
  Memorial Service for his predecessor Metropolitan Anthony.

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