NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America announces with great joy and gratitude to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the elevation of the Holy Archdiocese of America to the rank of Gerontiki Eparchy (meaning an eparchy headed by a Geron/Elder hierarch) of the Ecumenical Throne in the person of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, who from now on will be called His Eminence Geron Archbishop Demetrios of America.

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in his letter to the Archbishop notes that the unanimous decision of the Synod was taken in recognition of the invaluable services to the Mother Church, the entire Orthodoxy and the Theological Literature.

A translation of the announcement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate follows:

The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate met today, Thursday, November 26, 2015, under the presidency of His All-Holiness for its regularly scheduled meeting and examination of the agenda.

During the meeting, the Holy and Sacred Synod, following the proposal of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, elevated the Holy Archdiocese of America to the rank of Gerontiki (high-ranking) Eparchy of the Throne, in the person of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, who is to be called from now on His Eminence Geron Archbishop of America.

At the Patriarchate on November 26, 2015

From the Chief Secretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod