June 18, 2018

NEW YORK – In recent days, the words of St. Paul in the 13th chapter of his Epistle to the Romans have been circulating in the news.  We are concerned and alarmed at the use of this biblical quote being used out of context to justify the strict application of a policy occurring at our southern border, which is detrimental to family life.

The numerous challenges of today’s world weaken the already strained bonds of every modern family.  Family—a divine institution (cf. Ephesians 3:14)—is something that we as Orthodox Christians cherish and hold as sacred.  Furthermore, when our Lord came into this world as a human being, he entered it as a child and part of a family.  As a special creation of God the Father, no family deserves to be separated.  The institution of the family is found from the beginning of the Book of Genesis (chapter 2).  In love and harmony, the family finds joy, each member in the other.  Reflecting this joy, the Psalmist proclaims, your children will be like olive trees around your table (Psalm 127/128:3b).  Let us bear in mind that the branch of an olive tree is a universal symbol of peace, not something to be torn apart and broken.

It is for peace and for a dignified and humane solution to this unfortunate situation that we, together with people of good faith across our great nation, urgently entreat.  Children should not, under any circumstances, be punished for things that are beyond their control.  Our hearts go out to those suffering under these terrible conditions.  We pray for them, that their families soon be restored, and pray that the proper authorities find a swift and just solution to this unfortunate and very painful situation.

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June 18, 2018

NEW YORK – U. S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey R. Pyatt visited today His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America in his office at the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Ambassador Pyatt and Archbishop Demetrios discussed issues of concern for the Omogeneia and Greece, with a special reference to the matter of yesterday’ s agreement of Greece with FYROM.

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June 26, 2018

NEW YORK – The Greek American daily newspaper of New York “Ethnikos Kirix” published today, June 26, 2018, a first page article under the false and unsubstantiated title “Archbishop Demetrios incites revolt against the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”

The misinformation and allegations of the article have no foundation whatsoever. They are cynical falsehoods using as pretext a recent interview by the Vice-President of the Archdiocesan Council in another Greek American newspaper. That interview provides no basis for the allegations of the “Ethnikos Kirix” (“National Herald”) newspaper and they are simply a continuation of the well known and in every aspect unacceptable tactics which this newspaper has used for many years.

As we embark on the 44^th Clergy-Laity Congress in Boston in the coming week, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Geron of America, are steadily and unshakably committed to the service and ministry of the people of God in the United States, under the care and love of the Mother Church, our Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

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June 25, 2018

NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Holy Eparchial Synod and its President, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, express deep sorrow on the falling asleep in the Lord of Bishop Iacovos of Catania, who passed away peacefully Thursday, June 21, 2018 in Clearwater, Florida.

Commenting on his passing, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America stated:

“His Grace Bishop Iacovos of Catania, of blessed memory, with whom we were classmates at the University of Athens School of Theology, faithfully served our Church for many years as a clergyman and hierarch with devotion and grace. May he be counted among the saints and may his memory be eternal.”

His Grace Bishop Iacovos leaves behind a beautiful legacy, and he will be deeply missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He was born on August 10, 1927, in Megara, outside of Athens, Greece. Raised in the Orthodox faith by his deeply pious parents, he was inspired to enter the Priesthood. He attended and received his degree from the University of Athens Theological School in 1951. In 1951 he entered the monastery of St Meletios and took the ecclesiastical name Iacovos, in the same year he was ordained a deacon and then on April 26, 1952 he was ordained a Priest. A transfer to London in 1953 enabled him to study religious philosophy in Oxford, before arriving in the United States in 1959, where he served in parishes in Canada and New York.

His service at St. Barbara's Greek Orthodox Church in New York allowed him to pursue his studies even further. He was awarded his Master's in Philosophy from Columbia University in 1963, and ordained as Bishop of Catania on May 21, 1967 at the Archdicoesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York by Archbishop Iakovos. Shortly after (November 1967) he was assigned to the newly established Diocese of Houston (Eighth Archdiocesan District) and in January 1970 Archbishop Iacovos assigned him to the Diocese of Buenos Aires (Tenth Archdiocesan District). Beginning in 1973 he was assigned the Diocese of Charlotte, which later became the Diocese of Atlanta and is now the Metropolis of Atlanta.

His late brother Vasilios Pililis and his sister Kleoniki Pililis predeceased him and he is survived by his sister, Maria Papanicholaou, and many cherished nieces and nephews.

The funeral service was scheduled to take place Monday morning June 25, 2018 at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nicholas in Tarpon Springs Fla., following the Divine Liturgy. His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta will be presiding at the services and represent His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America and the Holy Eparchial Synod. Bishop Iacovos of Catania will be laid to rest at Sylvan Abby Memorial Park Cemetery in Clearwater.

May his Memory be eternal!

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