Remarks by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros
Meeting of Greek-American Community Leaders and Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City

Gracie Mansion, New York, NY
February 15, 2022

I know that I express the feelings of all, when I say that we are happy to meet once again Mayor Eric Adams, a friend of our Archdiocese, and the Greek American Community.

The Mayor and I first met in Brooklyn, when we marched together for justice.

And I am proud to note that on the day after his election victory, we received him at the Archdiocese so he could meet with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

During that visit, His All-Holiness raised vital concerns of our Ecumenical Patriarchate – which are the concerns of the community represented here today. These included the ongoing struggle to reopen the Theological Seminary of Halki, our pain over the reconversion of Hagia Sophia to a mosque, and the restrictions on the religious minorities of Turkey.

As an Eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and as a church headquartered right here in New York City, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese hopes and prays for peace and the prosperity of all nations, and in the world.

Our Greek-American community in the United States feels that it is impossible to achieve these goals in the Eastern Mediterranean, as long as the illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus by Turkey persists, and as long as there are such unreasonable and illegal demands of Greece, by Turkey.

We are here, because we know that our good friend, Mayor Adams, holds that justice is the precursor to peace, and we know that his commitment to both is the solid foundation for our ongoing close relationship and warm friendship.