New York, NY - His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, has learned that His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the staff of the Patriarchate and the facilities at the Phanar are safe and secure following a devastating earthquake sixty miles east of the City. Upon receiving the news, His Eminence issued the following statement:

"We give thanks to God for His many mercies in protecting the Sacred Center of our Faith and the sacred person of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Our thoughts and our prayers are with His All Holiness and the personnel of the Mother Church during this difficult time. We stand ready, as their spiritual children, to assist them in any and every way possible. We are deeply concerned for the well-being of the Greek Orthodox Communities in the areas affected by this terrible event. I will ask the parishes of the Archdiocese and the National Philoptochos to prepare to assist in offering aid as the need arises. As Orthodox Christians, we must be mindful of all persons whose lives have been shattered by this tragedy, and we grieve for those whose lives have been lost."