His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over the Lenten Contrition Vespers Sunday evening at the Saint Demetrios Church in Jamaica, New York. 

In attendance were local clergy including the Vicar in the region, The Rev. Archimandrite Chrysostomos Panos and Chancellor of the Archdiocese District Rev. Protopresbyter Elias Villis together with their beloved Proistamenos Father Konstantinos Kalogridis. 

The faithful of Saint Demetrios warmly welcomed His Eminence and visiting clergy. The Saint Demetrios community was recently jarred by an unprovoked attack of a parishioner on their front steps.

“I am fully aware that it is not easy to apply oneself to the strenuous application of Lent in our modern lives. One of our dear sisters was assaulted just the other morning on the way to this very Church...We are so very relieved that she is recovering and will not bear permanent injury from the assault, but this shows us how fragile our lives can be, and how ailing our society is. Our sister was not going from Jerusalem to Jericho, like the man assaulted in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, but from Jericho to Jerusalem! She was on her way to perform prayers and acts of virtue and goodness, and we should all hold her in a special place in our hearts,” His Eminence remarked, “This incident reminds us why we pray the Prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian during the Lenten Season, and especially tonight at the Vespers of Contrition, For it sums up our approach to Lent with profound simplicity, and orients us away from judgment of others – especially those who merit it – and directs us to compassion and kindness.”

Photos: GOARCH/Dimitrios Panagos