Orthodox Observer
@orthodoxobserver
c. 1931 — Official News Outlet of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (orthodoxobserver.org) under the leadership of @elpidophoros.goarch.org.
Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (HCHC) announced on August 2 that it has fully executed a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the sale of approximately 25.98 acres of undevelopable land on its property. 🔗 in bio
During a joint session of the 48th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress and the 2026 National Young Adult League (YAL) brought together clergy, lay leaders, and young adults for a collaborative discussion on strengthening parish young adult ministry. Read more at our site, found at the link in our bio.
On Friday, July 17, 2026, ahead of the final match of the World Cup, several Girl Delegates and Girl Delegate alumni of the GOA’s UN Girl Delegate Program participated in a day-long showcase event at the UN. Read more at the link in our bio.
Addressing the new Bishop of Andida, a former Diocese of the Metropolis of Pergis in Asia Minor, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew emphasized that “authentic theology and closed-mindedness are contradictory.”
Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology is pleased to announce the launch of The Catechist: The Art of Listening and Teaching, a new Certificate Program in Orthodox Catechism beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year. Read more below.
“Canonical discipline remains a necessary duty of the Church. Yet, when efforts by the Church to respond to the centuries-old trauma of the African Diaspora in the West is viewed through such a narrow and poorly informed lens, the heart of the Gospel is easily overlooked,” Fr. Samuel Davis writes.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America spent a full day at the New York State Capitol on Tuesday, March 11, delivering invocations before both chambers of the Legislature.
On January 5, 2026, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America was welcomed by Tarpon Springs mayor John Koulianos for the annual blessing of a fleet of sponge and fishing boats, as well as to commemorate tomorrow’s 120th consecutive celebration of the Great Feast of Epiphany.
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America paid a visit to the Cathedral of Saint Andrew in Patras, the seat of the Metropolis of Patras and the largest church in Greece, where he was formally received by His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras.
This afternoon, in the venerable Patriarchal Church of St. George at the Phanar, Great Vespers brought together His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in a profound manifestation of the “dialogue of love”
Watch highlights from His Eminence’s remarks at the Observer’s conference: “Do the Divine and Digital Intersect?”
Fr. Spiro was a featured speaker at the U.S. Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Summit, a gathering of national leaders dedicated to eradicating human trafficking across the country. Read about the summit here: www.goarch.org/-/fr.-peter-... 📸 FREEDOM Ministry
This past week, His Eminence visited Chios, a Greek island facing intense wildfires. There he spoke to residents, officials, and the firefighters. Read about the visit here: www.goarch.org/-/archbishop... 📸 OO/Dimitrios Panagos
Often, OVC volunteer work reflects the reality of Christian service. One often marked by practicality and the plain logistics of giving care to those who need it most. Read about two OVC volunteers’ experiences here: goarch.org/-/ovc-parks-fr… 📸 courtesy Harry Parks/Anastasia Friesen
The Archdiocese’s Girl Delegate Program gives girls the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in international relations, global policy discussions, and public leadership. Read here: goarch.org/-/chudley-girl… 📸 Demetra Chudley/Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith
On August 24, parishes across the Archdiocese will celebrate College Student Sunday, a day to offer prayers for our college students and work to ensure that they each have a spiritual home away from home. Read about it: goarch.org/-/css-25 📸 courtesy of OCF
The OCPM urges Orthodox Christians not to see incarceration as a distant, abstract policy concern, but as a pastoral and spiritual reality already present in our parishes. Read the full article here: www.goarch.org/-/-you-are-n... 📸courtesy of the OCPM
From Camp Saint Paul to the streets of Hamilton Heights, New York, this week’s generosity and stewardship extended far beyond campgrounds. Read about the week at the camp here: www.goarch.org/-/camp-saint... 📸 courtesy of Fr. Elias Villis
We’ve highlighted the events that will be open to the public during Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s U.S. visit in September. Refer to them here: www.goarch.org/-/ep-public-... 📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Now that the IOCC’s repairs are completed, 212 students and staff in Uganda are back to school. Read the full article, including an update on the IOCC’s other projects in the region here: goarch.org/-/after-iocc-r… 📸 courtesy of International Orthodox Christian Charities
On July 8, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met over 80 children from Ukraine. His All-Holiness addressed them with compassionate words. Read the @OrderStAndrew’s statement about the moment here: goarch.org/-/ecumenical-p… 📸 courtesy of Archons
“The day and memory are bitter.” His Eminence @elpidophoros.goarch.org issued an encyclical on the Day of Remembrance of the Hagia Sophia. Read the full message here: www.goarch.org/-/hagia-soph... 📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Archbishop Elpidophoros met with a delegation from the Greek Orthodox Community of Antioch who expressed profound gratitude for the GOA’s support of earthquake survivors in Turkey. Read about the meeting here: goarch.org/-/antiochian-d…
The pilgrims spent the day in the ancient city of Nicaea. Follow them as they walk in the footsteps of the First Ecumenical Council’s attendees, including Emperor Constantine the Great: www.goarch.org/-/pilgrims-r... 📸 OO/Brittainy Newman
Today’s emotional pinnacle for the New Rome pilgrims was a visit to the Hagia Sophia—once the Great Church of Christendom, now transformed into a mosque. Read about the history and the pilgrims’ experience here: goarch.org/-/hagia-sophia… 📸 OO/Brittainy Newman
Yesterday, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over from the Patriarchal throne, which His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew noted as a particular joy. Read about the pilgrims’ first day in Istanbul here: www.goarch.org/-/he-patriar... 📸: OO/Brittainy Newman
Before departing the city, the pilgrims in Rome made one last stop at the only Greek Orthodox Church in Rome. Read about the moment here: goarch.org/-/pilgrims-vis… 📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
The Leadership 100 Fund, whose mission is to advance Orthodoxy and Hellenism in the U.S., has appointed Penny Panayiota Deligiannis as their new executive director, effective February 2026. Read the full release here: goarch.org/-/leadership-1… 📸 courtesy of Deligiannis
The “From Rome to New Rome” pilgrimage began their last full day in the Eternal City at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Read about the end of the pilgrimage to here: goarch.org/-/faithful-par… 📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Following a private morning audience with Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo, the “From Rome to New Rome” pilgrims continued their journey at the monastery of Grottaferrata. Read about it here: goarch.org/-/following-a-… 📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman