wfn.org | Archbishop Demetrios to Chair First Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Hierarchs in North and Central Am

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA

8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106 * Tel: 
(212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0237
www.goarch.org    - Email: communications@goarch.org

> Contact: PRESS OFFICE
> Stavros Papagermanos
> pressoffice@goarch.org

> May 14, 2010

Archbishop Demetrios to Chair First Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Hierarchs in 
North and Central America

NEW YORK ? More than 50 hierarchs will take part in the first Assembly of 
Canonical Orthodox Bishops in North and Central America, to be convened by His 
Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America in New York City, May 26-28.

This Assembly is the result of the decision of the Fourth Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox 
Conference, which met in Chambésy Switzerland in June of 2009, after the 
extraordinary Synaxis of all the Heads of the Autocephalous Churches convened by His 
All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. This Assembly, one of twelve that 
will be convened around the world in regions where there is no single Orthodox 
presence, will consist of the active canonical bishops who reside in the region 
designated as North and Central America. In every Assembly, the chairman will be the 
senior bishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The Assembly will convene at the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel, where accommodations 
and arrangements have been coordinated by the staff of the Archbishop. The 
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, through the Leadership 100 grant to the Office of 
Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, is underwriting much of 
the expense, with other funds coming from a variety of Pan-Orthodox sources.

In discussing the Assembly at the May 7 meeting of the Archdiocesan Council in 
Atlanta, Archbishop Demetrios explained that the nature of the assembly is as 
?a temporary, not a permanent institution. It is simply preparatory to 
facilitate the process of an ecumenical council
(in the future) that will decide the final form of the existence of the Church 
in a particular country.? His Eminence further explained that the assembly is 
to meet annually and is not a continuation of SCOBA. Rather, it works to
?prepare a plan for dealing with anomalies, such as more than one bishop in a 
given locale and other things that interfere with the life of the Church.? It 
is also designed ?to project a unified witness of the faith.? As such, the 
Archbishop called the work of the Assembly
?tremendously important. The function and outcome of this first meeting will 
determine how it continues in the future.?

The Archbishop also said the following: ?The leadership of His All Holiness 
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in convening the Heads of world Orthodoxy is 
truly visionary. This vision of the unity of the Church has been confirmed from 
ages past, and with the Ecumenical Patriarchate leading the way, we will aspire 
to manifesting our unity in Christ based on the greatest commandment of all; to 
love one another.?

> == 30 ==