NEW YORK - Archbishop Demetrios of America, in consultation with the Holy Eparchial Synod, has appointed His Grace, Bishop Andonios of Phasiane to be the Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, effective October 1, 2009.

On the occasion of this appointment, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America offered the following remarks:  "We are very glad to have His Grace Bishop Andonios of Phasiane as the new Chancellor of the Archdiocese.  In all the positions that he has held within the Archdiocese, as a lay theologian, a deacon, a presbyter and a Bishop, His Grace has served with remarkable zeal and diligence. We are confident that with the help of God and the blessings of our Holy Eparchial Synod Bishop Andonios will execute his new and responsible duties as Chancellor with exemplary dedication, care and effectiveness."

Bishop Andonios was elected on December 11, 2001 by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople as an Auxiliary Bishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. He was given the title of Bishop of Phasiane, an ancient Diocese in Pontos, the birthplace of his grandparents. His episcopal ordination took place at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York on Saturday, February 23, 2002.

Born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey, the middle child of Steven and Despina Poulos (Paropoulos), he grew up in the local St. Demetrios parish. In 1976, he entered Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Mass., graduating in 1979 receiving a M. Div with Distinction and as President of the graduating class. After serving at various Archdiocesan institutions for five years in a lay capacity, he was ordained a Deacon on August 18, 1985 at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity by the late Archbishop Iakovos. He served for almost 4½ years as Deacon to the Archbishop until December 3, 1989, when he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood. 

Following his ordination, he continued to serve in both the Office of the Archbishop and the Office of the Chancellery and was Assistant Chancellor and Personnel Director of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America.  On February 24, 1991, he was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite.  After a sabbatical in Greece from 1991-1992, he returned to the Archdiocese and was subsequently assigned to the parish of Zoodohos Peghe in the Bronx until 1995.  At that time, he returned to the Archdiocese to assist with the retirement of Archbishop Iakovos and also assumed the position of Coordinator for the 1996 Clergy-Laity Congress, which was held in New York.  In July of that year, he was appointed Director of St. Michael's Home in Yonkers, NY, where he continues to serve as Director, and in June 2000, Archbishop Demetrios appointed him to the new position of Director of the Archdiocesan Department of Philanthropy. In addition, he serves as the advisor to the National Board of the Ladies Philoptochos Society and to the Direct Archdiocesan District Philoptochos Board. Since 2007 he has been responsible for the Benevolence Fund of the Archdiocese for Retired Clergy and Widowed Presvyteres and in the Spring of 2008, organized and heads the Committee which oversees the Direct Archdiocesan District's Camp St. Paul .

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PRESS OFFICE
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NEW YORK - His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will arrive in New Orleans, on Oct. 20 to begin his Apostolic and Patriarchal Visit to the United States. The purpose of this, his sixth visit to our nation, is twofold: to convene and preside over the Eighth Religion, Science and the Environment (RSE) Symposium, and to celebrate the 10 ^th anniversary of the enthronement of Archbishop Demetrios of America as the Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

His All Holiness, under whose high patronage the Religion, Science and the Environment Symposia take place, will lead a large and diverse group of theologians, scientists, policy makers, environmentalists, representatives of business and NGOs, and media for a five day Environmental Symposium entitled; " Restoring Balance: The Great Mississippi River ."

Since 1995, RSE has convened seven symposia to study the fate of the world's waters, which cover seven-tenths of our planet's surface. These assemblies of scientists, environmentalists, policy-makers and representatives of the world's main religious faiths have established a vibrant environmental ethics movement. Underlying RSE's strategies is a core belief that the analytical tools of science and the spiritual messages of religion must work in harmony if the earth's environment is to be safeguarded. The symposia take place afloat, bringing participants - international and regional religious leaders, scientists, environmentalists, policy makers, media representatives and other prominent figures in politics and business - directly to endangered bodies of water. Previous symposia have been attended by heads of state, environmental ministers, ministers of economic affairs and prominent intellectual figures. (More information on the Mississippi symposium: www.rsesymposia.org )

Following the Symposium, His All Holiness will travel to New York City for a week-long celebration of the 10 ^th Anniversary of the Enthronement of Archbishop Demetrios. It will commence on Oct. 25, with the Feast day Great Vespers of St. Demetrios the Myrrh-streamer at the Parish dedicated to the Great-Martyr in Merrick, NY. The next day, the His All Holiness will preside at the Feast day Divine Liturgy at St. Demetrios Cathedral in Astoria, NY. On the evening of the 26th, His All Holiness will preside at the 9th Annual Prayer service for the United Nations at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. The service is sponsored jointly by the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) and the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Bishops in America (SCOOCH). On Tuesday, October 27th, His All Holiness will meet with the Primates of SCOBA.

Later in the evening of the 27th, Fordham University will bestow an honorary doctorate in law to His All Holiness. In recognition of the Ecumenical Patriarch's leadership in the fields of environmental responsibility, and interfaith and inter-cultural dialogue, Fordham is also presenting the initial volume of a three-part series of the major speeches of His All Holiness. Among all the festivities organized by Fordham, there will be a special opportunity for the students of the local Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) to meet with and receive the blessing of the Ecumenical Patriarch.

On For the rest of this News Release, visit the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website

Encyclical of Archbishop Demetrios for National Leadership 100 Sunday - October 18, 2009
October 2, 2009

In this new ecclesiastical year, I greet you with paternal love on behalf of the Holy Eparchial Synod in order to announce that in recognition of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment Fund.