MIXED COMMISSION COMMUNIQUE
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America is currently participating in the regularly scheduled session of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Holy and Sacred Synod for the month of January (10-12). Upon the conclusion of this synodal session — under the chairmanship of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew — the very first meeting of the Mixed Commission on the Charter of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (“Mixed Commission”) will take place at the Ecumenical Patriarchate on January 13th.
As an Eparchy of the Ecumenical Throne of Constantinople, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has been granted five Charters over the course of its century-long history in the United States (most recently in 2003). This process has always been conducted with the utmost care, concern, meticulousness, and prudence, to address the contemporary pastoral needs of the Church with each passing era. While celebrating the 2022 Centennial Year of the Sacred Archdiocese of America, and in conjunction with the July 2022 Clergy-Laity Congress in New York City, the voices of our faithful were heard at a Plenary Charter Session attended by all the delegates, clergy, and laity. It was recognized that a fresh vision must be implemented to preserve and perpetuate the ongoing spiritual development and well-being of the Archdiocese and its Christ-loving flock.
To this end, the Ecumenical Patriarchate formed the Mixed Commission to review the Charter’s current text to help meet the present-day spiritual development and practical needs of an ever-evolving Greek Orthodox community in America. An esteemed body of highly distinguished hierarchs, clergy, and laity representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Sacred Archdiocese of America has been tasked with leading this effort.
At their first meeting, the members of the Mixed Commission will begin their deliberations on how the future Charter can best meet the needs of the Greek Orthodox faithful in the United States as our Sacred Archdiocese embarks on its second century.
