On Sunday, October 4th, the community of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Pittsburgh, PA welcomed Hierarchs from the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America for a pan-Orthodox Hierarchical concelebration of the Divine Liturgy.
Attended by more than 300 faithful from the Pittsburgh-area, the Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Chairman of the Assembly of Bishops, along with the following Hierarchs and clergy.
> Find the extensive list of Hierarchs and clergy in attendance here.
Orthros was chanted by the St. Nicholas Cathedral chanters, lead by Amy Hogg, and the Divine Liturgy was chanted by the Pan-Orthodox Choir of Pittsburgh, under the direction of Archpriest Thomas Soroka.
His Grace Bishop Irinej gave the homily which highlighted our calling to love one another as Christ loves us. His Grace said, “where love is present, God will also be there present. And most certainly where God is present, there too is love, for He is love.”
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Elpidophoros conveyed the Medal of St. Theodora, the highest recognition of the Assembly of Bishops, upon Anne van den Berg for her dedicated service to Orthodox Christian unity in the United States of America. Mark Arey, the other 2026 recipient, was unable to attend in-person.
Anne van den Berg, of Orlando, Florida, received the highest honor of the Assembly of Bishops for her work in pan-Orthodox unity. Photo courtesy of AoB/ Presb. Theophani Sarigianis.
Rev. Fr. Eleftherios Constantine, Dean of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, welcomed the assembled Hierarchs to the cathedral and expressed well wishes on behalf of the clergy and faithful of Pittsburgh for a productive convening of the Assembly. The assembled Hierarchs were then invited to join the clergy and faithful in the community hall for a reception hosted by the Cathedral community.