Archbishop Elpidophoros of America - Feast of Saint George and Saint Thomas

Χριστὸς Ἀνέστη!

Today is a great confluence of feasts – those of your Holy Patron, the Holy Great-Martyr and Trophy-Bearer George, and Apostle who was a twin, Thomas, called “Doubting”.

April 23, 2023

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America -Great Vespers of the Feast of Saint George and Saint Thomas

I am delighted to be here at this wonderful and beautiful parish of Saint George the Great-Martyr for the Great Vespers of the Feast. Your love for this most beloved Saint of our Church is manifest in every face I see.

April 23, 2023

Archbishop Elpidophoros - Homily for the Great Vespers of the Life-Giving Fountain

This evening, we gather to celebrate the Feast of your Heavenly Protector, the Virgin of the Life-giving Fountain. I am always happy to be here with you, and I shall never forget how this parish in particular, acted with such generosity when the fire ravaged the Baliki Hospital. I am grateful to you all, and for you all.

April 21, 2023

Archbishop Elpidophoros Homily for the Divine Liturgy of the First Resurrection, Holy Saturday 2023

Today we gather in the deep silence of this Sabbath of Sabbaths, in which the Lord rests in His Divine Flesh within the Tomb. Now is the time when we keep watch, in eager expectation of the triumph to come. As the special Χερουβικόν we chant today says:

April 15, 2023

Archbishop Elpidophoros Homily for the Service of the Lamentations at the Tomb, Holy Saturday 2023

Tonight, our holy Epitaphios Service is an invitation to join in the procession of the countless Christians who have come before us – across all the generations, in the Burial of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the retinue of the Kouvouklion, we all participate in the funeral cortege of our Lord Jesus Christ.

April 15, 2023

Archbishop Elpidophoros Homily for the Great Vespers of the Descent from the Cross, Holy Friday 2023

We have arrived at this moment – a very painful moment in Holy Week, when we behold with our eyes, and we hear with our ears, the dire effects of hatred, envy, greed, and every kind of sin. We behold the Lord, in the Service we call Ἀποκαθήλωσις, the Descent from the Cross, without the breath of life. His brutalized form hangs in death between heaven and earth. A shocking sight to the Angels and heartbreaking one for his Mother and His Disciples.

April 15, 2023

Homily for the Twelve Gospels - Matins of Great and Holy Friday 2023

Tonight, the Service of the Passion – the Matins of Holy Friday –overwhelms our hearts and astonishes our minds. We behold with our eyes the vision of God crucified in the flesh.

April 14, 2023

Archbishop Elpidophoros Homily for the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Holy and Great Thursday

Beloved Sisters and Brothers in the Lord,

We have gathered to commemorate the First Divine Liturgy – the Mystical Supper – when the Lord Jesus gave us the commandment that established the worship of the Church. He said the following:

Τοῦτο ποιεῖτε εἰς τὴν ἐμὴν ἀνάμνησιν.

Do this in remembrance of Me. [*]

April 13, 2023

Archbishop Elpidophoros Homily for the Service Holy Unction - Great and Holy Wednesday

Beloved Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I have come to your wonderful parish, to serve this very special service of Holy Unction with you, the faithful Christians of Holy Trinity in Bridgeport. Tonight, we gather for the healing of body and soul, and for the forgiveness of our sins, in accordance with the Epistle of Saint Iakovos, the Brother of the Lord, who is often called “James.”[*] The Mystery of Anointing with Holy Oil is a profound Mystery that has filled our Churches since the days of the Apostles.

April 12, 2023

Archbishop Elpidophoros Homily for the Third Bridegroom - Matins of  Holy Wednesday

Once again, I am here with this wonderful community of Kimisis tis Theotokou in Brooklyn, for the Third Bridegroom Service, and the most beautiful Hymn of Kassiani.

The Gospel reading for this Matins of Holy Wednesday has an unusual detail, which resonates especially with us, the Greek Orthodox of today.

April 12, 2023

Archbishop Elpidophoros Homily for the Second Bridegroom Service - Great and Holy Tuesday 2023

We are now in the midst of our most precious season, and the hymns of the Church alert us to what is happening in this last week of the Lord’s earthly ministry. Day by day, we will follow the Lord on His Way to the Cross.

April 11, 2023

Archbishop Elpidophoros Homily for the First Bridegroom Service - Great and Holy Monday 2023

We have now arrived at the somber services of Holy Week, so that may prepare ourselves to greet the Lord, Who is Coming to His voluntary Passion.

April 11, 2023

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros Homily for Palm Sunday Liturgy 2023 in Annapolis, MD

Today we behold our King coming to us, into the Holy City of Jerusalem, and we greet him with palm fronds to honor him as the Victor over death. He comes to us with humility and with gentleness

April 9, 2023

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros Homily for Lazaros Saturday April 8, 2023 Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Baltimore, Maryland

My beloved brothers and sisters of Saint Nicholas Church, the center of Greektown in Baltimore, the Saturday of Lazaros brings us into the timeline and the historical events of Holy Week. It is no accident that the Apolytikion for today and Palm Sunday, is the same: Τὴν κοινὴν Ἀνάστασιν, for this is our prelude to the symphony of God’s love to follow.

April 9, 2023

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America - Homily At the Service of the Akathist Hymn Saint Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church

Beloved sisters and brothers in Christ,

         Tonight, just days after our celebrations of the Annunciation of the Theotokos and Greek Independence Day, we gather to praise the Mother of God, our Panagia, with this magnificent canticle that we call the Akathist Hymn.

April 2, 2023

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros - Homily at the Vespers of Contrition (March 26, 2023)

I am so very pleased to be with in Brookville at Holy Resurrection for the Vespers of Contrition – ὁ Κατανυκτικός Ἑσπερινός. This unique service prepares us to re-engage the Fast in the coming week. This special Vespers reorients us to the sobriety and gravity of Lent, and what it means for our lives.

March 27, 2023

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros - Homily on the Fourth Sunday of Lent

Today, I am very pleased to be with this wonderful community of the Slavic Orthodox Vicariate in America. We have arrived at the Fourth Sunday of the Holy Fast, when we remember the famed Abbot of Sinai, Saint John Climacus.

March 26, 2023

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros - Homily at the Great Vespers of the Feast of the Annunciation

What a blessing to be here at Annunciation this evening, to chant the praises of the Theotokos and this Initiation of our salvation in Christ. As we sang in the Great Vespers:

March 25, 2023

Homily by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America At the Divine Liturgy – Veneration of the Cross

What better place, in all of our Archdiocese, to observe the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross – than in this Sacred Space, this glorious Chapel of the Holy Cross? Read More

March 19, 2023