His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros presided over the service of the Great Vespers of the Descent from the Cross on Holy and Great Friday today, Friday, May 3, 2024, at Saint Michael’s Home in Yonkers, New York. 

His Eminence joined His Grace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane and the St. Michael community for this sorrowful service. 

“This is a very painful moment in Holy Week, when we behold with our eyes, and hear with our ears, the effects of hatred, envy, greed, and every kind of sin. We behold the Lord, in the Service ofἈποκαθήλωσις, the Descent from the Cross, without the breath of life. In this mystery of God’s death in the flesh, we see the ultimate sacrifice of the Creator of the universe. He dies, so that we may live.” His Eminence remarked in his Homily. 

Archbishop Elpidophoros will preside over Service of the Lamentations at the Tomb this evening at the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade Center.

Photos: GOARCH/Dimitrios Panagos