His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros presided today over an extraordinary session of the Holy Eparchial Synod, convened by videoconference following the joyful announcement of the election of His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey as Archbishop of Canada.
The Archbishop and the members of the Holy Eparchial Synod expressed their profound gratitude to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and to the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Mother Church for the selection of one of the Hierarchs of our Sacred Archdiocese and a member of the Holy Eparchial Synod as the successor to Archbishop Sotirios in this most significant Eparchy of the Ecumenical Throne.
Accordingly, the procedure prescribed by the relevant provisions of the Charter of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America was initiated. With the concurrence of the members of the Holy Eparchial Synod, the Archbishop was appointed Locum Tenens of the now-vacant Holy Metropolis of New Jersey. The matter of electing a new Metropolitan for the Holy Metropolis will be discussed at a forthcoming session of the Holy Eparchial Synod.
Finally, effective immediately, the clergy of the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey are instructed to commemorate, in accordance with the prescribed ecclesiastical order, the venerable name of the Ecumenical Patriarch at all divine services and sacred rites.
From the Chief Secretariat