Regarding an article published by the Saturday edition of the Greek newspaper “Kathimerini” entitled “Involvement with Elpidophoros on Athos –Archbishop of America considered unwelcomed by Holy Community” in the aftermath of the baptism of children of a same-sex Greek-American couple, as mentioned in the article, the Press Office of the Archdiocese of America seeks to provide clarification:
Today’s article repeats the same deliberate misinformation initially circulated ten days ago (on January 4, 2024) in a New York-based newspaper, aiming to generate sensationalism, particularly amidst the current political climate in Greece.
In detail, the program is as follows:
As we announced at the end of 2023 and reiterated last week, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, along with a group of forty pilgrims from the USA, is set to visit Mount Athos on the occasion of the Feast of the Epiphany.
On January 18, the pilgrimage will begin from Xenophontos Monastery, where the Archbishop will attend the vigil and the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy of the Holy Epiphany as well as the blessing of the waters on January 19.
On January 20, the Archbishop, along with his entourage, will visit Philotheou Monastery, which is the mother Monastery of the great monasteries, which the late Elder Ephraim founded in America.
On Sunday, January 21, the Archbishop will preside over the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Philotheou Monastery. On the same day, the Archbishop and the pilgrims will visit Pantokratoros Monastery where they will stay, and, on January 22, they will return to Thessaloniki to continue the visit.
It should be noted that the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki invited the Archbishop of America to the events for the Remembrance Day of the Greek Jewish Martyrs and Heroes of the Holocaust, co-organized with the Region of Central Macedonia. As part of these events on January 28, the Archbishop of America will be the keynote speaker at the event to be held at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. The Jewish Community of Thessaloniki will declare the Archbishop of America an honorary member.