His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over the Divine Liturgy for Palm Sunday at Holy Trinity Church in Hicksville, NY on Sunday April, 28, 2024. Presiding priest Fr. Theofanis Papantonis, parish council members and faithful welcomed the Archbishop for this important day in the life of the Orthodox Church, the commemoration of the Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem following His glorious miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. Having anticipated His arrival and having heard of the miracle, the people went out to meet the Lord and welcomed Him with displays of honor and shouts of praise and waving palms. On this day, we receive and worship Christ in this same manner, acknowledging Him as our King and Lord.

In his Homily for today, His Eminence remarked, “We are standing here today, holding palms of victory. On this Palm Sunday, before the events of Holy Week, we know that our Lord Jesus Christ is the Conqueror of Death. Even though He will pass through the Betrayal, the Denial, the Passion, the Crucifixion, Death, and Burial, we know that He will rise again. As you hold and cherish your palms today, understand that you are a vision of the future, and not only a memory of the past. We are called to carry these branches of palms at all times in our spirits – νοητῶς, with our souls cleansed from all manner of pride and selfishness.”

Photos: GOARCH/Dimitrios Panagos