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Orthodox Observer - October 1996

Our New Archbishop

To use an oft-quoted phrase from President Kennedy's inaugural address, the torch has been passed to a new generation.

The election and subsequent enthronement of the 52-year-old American-born Spyridon opens a new era for the Church in America.

Already, the response of thousands of Orthodox faithful witnessing the events of the enthronement weekend as summer ended and autumn began has been one of enthusiasm.

His Eminence set the tone for his ministry on several occasions over the past few days as he exhorted his listeners to follow Christ's command to love one another. A recurring theme he has emphasized is the need to emulate Christ and to set aside past differences and rivalries and work for the betterment of the Church under the guidance and direction of our Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

He has stressed, particularly to his staff, the importance of hard, honest work, of teamwork in a joint and common effort to further the mission of the Church.

Our new Archbishop is the answer to the prayers of many Greek Orthodox faithful. Over the past few months, there was a certain amount of uncertainty of what the future would hold; first, about who the Ecumenical Patriarch would select to head the church, then, after Spyridon's election, what sort of leader will he be?

Lay leaders and clergy from across the nation hoped for an archbishop sensitive to the needs of the faithful, able to relate to the American experience, and with the ability to articulate the Orthodox Christian faith to a varied and complex flock — second-, third- and fourth-generation Greek Americans, non-Greek spouses, converts, a secularized youth, and to the nation and world at large.

In his enthronement speech, Archbishop Spyridon expounded a vision for the Church that meets these expectations.

Acknowledging with gratitude the sacrifices and contributions made by our immigrant forbears to plant the faith in America, the Archbishop sees himself as one of the children of that legacy who intends to make the Church a strong presence in the lives of future generations of young people.

In the contemporary setting of modern society, His Eminence frowns on exclusionary attitudes and calls upon the faithful to reach out to those who want to embrace the faith -- converts, non-Orthodox spouses, and the vast numbers of unchurched. This may not be what some wanted to hear, but the Archbishop has served notice that this is what is expected of us if we are to take our faith seriously.

He has made it quite clear that his concern is with our spiritual identity, that we can only serve Jesus Christ and that Orthodox Christianity must present a united front in advancing that faith.

As our new spiritual father, Archbishop Spyridon clearly has the qualities that merit the exclamation of "Axios" heard during the enthronement service. But he also challenges us, his spiritual children, to strive to be worthy of being called Orthodox Christians.

[ Orthodox Observer - Vol. 61, No. 1119 - October 1996 - p. 8 ]