REMARKS
By His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America
At the Fellowship Dinner
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Portland, Oregon
June 24, 2023
Your Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco,
Your Grace Bishop Ioannis of Phocaea,
Protopresbyter Paul Paris, our host this evening, and
Reverend Clergy,
Beloved Brothers and Sisters of Portland and the Region,
They say that Portland is perhaps the most interesting and diverse city in America for the pleasures of the palate. We certainly are enjoying your famous hospitality this evening. But even more importantly, we are enjoying the pleasures of your fellowship.
There is something about this Northwest American Orthodox community. You have a resilience and a determination that shines through your many endeavors. I am grateful to all of you – especially those who have worked so hard to make this evening memorable – for your Christian love and welcome. I am always interested in visiting communities and parishes throughout this great Nation, because the breadth and depth of the Orthodox Church throughout America is very much colored by regional realities.
For example, English is the first language of the United States, and yet its pronunciation from Maine to Louisiana is remarkably different. Furthermore, with immigration, we have a whole host of new languages – with Spanish being chief among them – and this is not to mention the glorious diversity of Indigenous languages that have existed here long before European colonizers crossed the seas.
Coming from an ancient and coherent culture in Christian Turkey and Greece, for me, the fast pace of American evolution is endlessly fascinating. I am now commencing my fifth year as your Archbishop, and my curiosity continues to motivate my understanding of Orthodoxy in this land.
We have such an ancient tradition, replete with forms and practices that often are seen as outdated by some, and ossified by others. But as we look across the vast sweep of history, we see that our Orthodox Church cannot be frozen in any moment, and it cannot be updated like our phones or computers with some new liturgical software. What we must search for – and I mean every day – is how to enrich our lives with the essential meaning of our Faith and the noble traditions of our Church.
Especially since the era of immigration is basically over, the growth that the Church experiences comes from the families already within the sphere of the Church, and from increasing numbers of seekers who are yearning for the authentic teaching of Christ. But we can take neither group for granted.
Families must be supported in their perpetuation of the Faith, and converts must be educated, so as not to burn the bridges with which they came over to us. Rather, let them stand for others to cross over as well.
One of the greatest challenges for Orthodoxy in America is how to abide in the True Vine of Christ and His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. And at the same time, to speak with love to the relevant issues of the day that our faithful encounter. Some of these issues are very challenging, as the Church is called to be the leaven of the culture, not the other way around. But in all things, we must speak with love, with compassion, with understanding and with mercy.
From what I have witnessed in my brief journey with you, I perceive such excellent virtues among your Metropolitan, your clergy and your laity. You should all be very proud of the works of the Lord that you are accomplishing here and in the surrounding communities.
May the Lord ever bless you and your families to always be such true and faithful witnesses to our Holy Orthodox Church, and to uphold the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in all that you say and do.
Thank you for your warm welcome and hospitality worthy of Abraham and Sarah!
May the Lord bless you all!