BOSTON – With renewed enthusiasm and vigor, the community of St. Philip in Nashua, NH, began the New Year 2024 by selecting the members of its administrative bodies, the Parish Council and the Council of the philanthropic association ‘Agapi’.

The swearing-in ceremony for these councils took place on Sunday, January 14, at the end of the Divine Liturgy and before the congregation, led by the community’s presiding priest Fr. Paul Bebis. He extended wishes for a prosperous year and fruitful service to the community.

Following the ceremony, the traditional cutting of the New Year’s Vasilopita took place before the congregation, accompanied by the customary special blessing pronounced by Fr. Paul Bebis and the chanting of the ‘apolytikion’ of Saint Basil the Great. Father Bebis briefly mentioned Saint Basil and emphasized that the proceeds from the Vasilopita event would be dedicated, as usual, to support Saint Basil Academy in Garrison, NY. Towards the end, along with the distribution of the ‘antidoros’ bread, the pieces of the Vasilopita were distributed among the members of the congregation.

Fr. Paul Bebis marked one year of pastorship at the St. Philip’s community, having been transferred by Metropolitan Methodios of Boston from the community of Holy Trinity in the city of Fitchburg, MA, where he served for eleven years.

Coming from a clerical family, the late protopresbyter Constantine and Presbytera Eirini Bebis, who served for fifty consecutive years in the community of St. George in New Bedford, MA, he is also the nephew of the late Professor of Patrology at the Holy Cross Theological School, George Bebis.