BOSTON – His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is sending his closest associate, His Eminence Geron Metropolitan of Chalcedon Emmanuel, to represent him at the upcoming 46^th Clergy -Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in from July 4 to 7 which will be held at the Marriot Marquis in Manhattan.

The Archdiocese will bring singer Despina Vandi to perform at the Grand Banquet of the Congress on Thursday, July 7, as was announced on the official Web of the Archdiocese.

The theme of the Congress is ‘Legacy, Renewal, Unity’ and Archbishop Elpidophoros has appointed as his Co-Chairs Chrysanthy Demos and Nick Karacostas. It will be the first in-person Clergy Laity Congress of the current Archbishop. The previous one, in 2020, was held virtually due to COVID-19. The last in person Congress took place in 2018 in Boston during the tenure of Archbishop Demetrios, formerly of America.

This year the Archdiocese is celebrating its centennial. At the same time as the Clergy-Laity Congress, the National Philoptochos will be conducting their Biennial Convention and preceding the Clergy-Laity Congress will be a National Young Adult Conference, June 30-July 4.

The Congress has been designed for the most part to feature many receptions, breakfasts, luncheons, and dinners since no serious preparation work has been done in parishes and metropolises. The issue of the Charter will be discussed at the next Clergy-Laity Congress, in 2024.

The emphasis at the upcoming Congress will be on the approval of the budget for the next two years.

On Monday, July 4^th – Independence Day – the consecration of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine in Lower Manhattan will take place. Fr. Lukas, the iconographer of the Xenophontos Monastery of Mount Athos will be coming to the United States to install the icons. The Holy Table and the Iconostasis are expected to arrive by then also.

The Opening Session of the Congress has been set on July 4 at 3:30-5:00 PM with the Keynote Address of Archbishop Elpidophoros, greetings of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and Ecumenical Patriarchate representatives.

The program includes:

Tuesday, July 5

Clergy Breakfast with His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros

Committee Meetings

Finance Committee – Including approval of the budget to be presented at the Plenary Session

Marriage and Family Committee

Youth Committee

Ministry Panels

Ministry Panel One: Our Orthodox Family (Family Ministry)

Ministry Panel Two: The Agencies of the Assembly of Bishops

Ministry Panel Three: Diakonia: Looking back, and planning for the future

National Forum of Church Musicians Reception

Archon Reception

Clergy Family Dinner with His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros

Wednesday, July 6

Philoptochos Agape Breakfast

Committee Meetings

Information Technology Committee

Greek Education Committee

Advisory Committee on the Charter

Survey Results and Discussion

Ministry Panels

Ministry Panel Four: The Church and our Society

Ministry Panel Five: The Lessons of a Lockdown.

‘Journey of Ecclesiastical Music in America’ Concert

Thursday, July 7

Plenary Session

Brief presentations from various Committees and Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, Philoptochos, Leadership 100, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation, and Archdiocesan Presbyters Council

Finance Committee Presentation

New and Old Business

Grand Banquet featuring Live Music and Entertainment with Despina Vandi from Greece.