METROPOLITAN GERASIMOS OF SAN FRANCISCO TO BE ENTHRONED APRIL 2 IN ASCENSION CATHEDRAL, OAKLAND

San Francisco, CA - His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, will preside at the enthronement of His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco on Saturday, April 2 in the Ascension Cathedral, 4700 Lincoln Ave., Oakland, beginning at 10:30 a.m. A luncheon will follow in honor of Metropolitan Gerasimos hosted by the Ascension Cathedral. Metropolitan Gerasimos will celebrate his first Hierarchal Liturgy, Sunday morning, April 3 in the Annunciation Cathedral, 245 Valencia St., San Francisco beginning at 10:30 a.m. Clergy of the Metropolis of San Francisco will assist him.

The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople elected the new Metropolitan of San Francisco on February 22, 2005 to succeed Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco who fell asleep in the Lord on December 25, 2004.

In his first Pastoral Address to the Clergy and Faithful at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Phoenix, AZ, March 13, His Eminence Metropolitan
Gerasimos said: "The Fathers of the Church went to the desert, not as teachers, but as pupils and pilgrims. They went to the desert in order to learn the lessons the desert itself had to offer. I come to this Metropolis, to this unique place, not in order to impose upon it some preconceived notions taken from another place or time; that would be as foolish as attempting to transplant and grow wetland plants in the desert, I have come rather seeking to learn the lessons that this place has to teach, to plant myself in the unique soil of this region, and to preserve and build up the parish communities that thrive here, like indigenous plants. And as I prepare for the day of my enthronement in the Metropolis of San Francisco, I have constantly before me the accomplishments, visions and expectations of my predecessor, the late Metropolitan Anthony, who also had the experience of the desert."

The entire Enthronement Ceremony will be Broadcast Live on the INTERNET Saturday, April 2 beginning at 10:30 a.m. (PST).

The doors of Ascension Cathedral will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday for early arrival. Shuttle service will be provided at additional parking sites
available at the Mormon Temple and Cerebral Palsy Center. For more
information, call 415.753.3075 or visit:

www.goarch.org/en/special/metgerasimos.