Inaugural Clergy Laity Conference A Great Success

[尼古拉前执事]

Holy Metropolis of the Genuine Greek Orthodox Church of America

Cathedral of Saint Markella of Chios
22-68 26th Street
Astoria, N.Y. 11105
October 12, 2004
NEWS RELEASE
Re: Inaugural Clergy Laity Conference A Great Success

Astoria, NY- The Inaugural Clergy-Laity Conference of the Holy
Metropolis of
the Genuine Greek Orthodox Church of America concluded in New York
yesterday
following four days of highly productive meetings, deliberations, and
joyful
Divine Services. The conference was presided over by His Eminence
Metropolitan Pavlos, Archbishop of North and South America. Over 100
delegates and
clergy from various parts of North America participated in the
Conference, which
met from October 8 to October 11.

The theme of the conference was the life of Metropolitan Petros of
blessed
memory, and the fifty year anniversary of the Cathedral of St.
Markella that
was founded by him.

The conference had three main assembly sections: the formation of the
Metropolis Constitution, the formation of a National Philoptochos
Society, and the
formation of a national Metropolis Youth Association.

His Eminence, Metropolitan Pavlos was joined at the conference by four
hierarchs from Greece (Metropolitans Stephanos of Chios, and
Chrysostomos of
Attica, and Bishops Gregory of Christianoupolis, and Photios of
Marathon) and one
from America (Bishop Christodoulos of Theoupolis).
That the conference was a great success was clear to all participants
and
observers. The participants expressed feelings of great fellowship
with their
brother Christians from the various parishes.
Other results of the conference included: 1) the drafting of a new
constitution for the Holy Metropolis. 2) The formation of a National
Philoptochos
Society. 3) The formation of a National Metropolis Youth Association.
At its
assembly, the Youth Association decided on a date for the Inaugural
Metropolis
Youth Association Conference. 4) The unanimous expression of a desire
to
continue the struggle to live and preserve the Holy Traditions of the
Greek
Orthodox Church as taught by the Holy Apostles, received, lived, and
preserved by
the Holy Fathers, and given to us by Metropolitan Petros and his
brother
Archimandrite Niphon of blessed memory.
To see photos of the conference please visit:
www.greekorthodoxclc.org
(http://www.greekorthodoxclc.org/)

For further information please go to: www.TheGreekOrthodoxChurch.com

[John Haluska]

The Inaugural Clergy-Laity Conference of the Holy Metropolis of the Genuine Greek Orthodox Church of America was indeed a gift from God. All one has to do is look at what was accomplished and that fact becomes readily apparent.

The most salient, if not outstanding, statement issued by the Clergy/Laity Conference was the following:

Quote:
“The unanimous expression of a desire to continue the struggle to live and preserve the Holy Traditions of the Greek Orthodox Church as taught by the Holy Apostles, received, lived, and preserved by the Holy Fathers, and given to us by Metropolitan Petros and his brother Archimandrite Niphon of blessed memory.”
Enquote

This statement clearly states what I personally believe was the center of what the Conference was about.

Does it not clearly and unequivocally state exactly what any Orthodox Christian should do? Does it not, in fact, confess Orthodoxy itself?

In this day and age, when the topic of Holy Tradition, as handed down by the Holy Apostles, much less Orthodoxy itself is even suggested, it is usually bandied about and thoroughly thrashed into oblivion. Here, we have an example of a genuinely refreshing confession as to what should be done as Orthodox Christians.

This Conference accomplished a number of things. Their collective efforts, as the Orthodox Church clearly indicates, will blossom into a fruitful harvest as, indeed, God has truly blessed them in this undertaking.

Being an undertaking to “continue the struggle to live and preserve the Holy Traditions” of Orthodoxy, this entire process MUST flourish, as God Himself has blessed it.

To Metropolitan Pavlos, the Hierarchy, Clergy, Monastics and Laity of this Conference and The Holy Metropolis of The Genuine Greek Orthodox Church of America:

MANY YEARS!

John Haluska