Orthodox Observer

12/22/2025

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America's 2025 Christmas Message.

Find the Greek version at the link in the comments below. Video by Orthodox Observer/Fr. Sotirios Michalatos.

12/22/2025

This Nativity season, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, under the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, is partnering with Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) for the Let Children Live campaign—a simple yet powerful invitation to pray for Palestinian children by name, lifting them up in advocacy and love.

Each participant receives the name of a Palestinian child, regardless of faith background; the campaign embraces children who are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or any other tradition, reminding us that in the eyes of God, every child bears equal dignity.

For Orthodox Christians, this effort resonates deeply with our spiritual heritage.

Our Holy Tradition teaches that every human person is created in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26). In each face we encounter, regardless of their faith, ethnicity, or nationality, we meet a living icon of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Read more about CMEP at the link in the comments below. Photos by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman.

12/22/2025

The Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City hosted its 49th annual Christmas concert on Dec. 19.

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America attended the program, remarking that the concert opened “a variety of pathways to understand and participate in the meaning of the Feast of the Nativity in the flesh of the Son of God. Whether the hymns proclaim with Angelic splendor, or they reflect the tender “Little Town” of Bethlehem, they each offer perspectives that can inform our hearts and minds, if we will only let the music enter our souls.”

Read more about the concert at the link in the comments below. Photos by Orthodox Observer/Dimitrios Panagos

12/22/2025

12/20/2025

Fr. Alexander Karloutsos is the Grand Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne.

In his piece in the Orthodox Observer, “A Season of Renewal: Why the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Should Embrace Mandatory Retirement,” Fr. Alexander Karloutsos writes:

“This has been a historic week for the Roman Catholic Church in New York. On Thursday, December 18, 2025, the Vatican announced a major leadership transition that marks the end of an era and a significant shift in the church’s direction. Pope Leo XIV officially accepted the resignation of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who has served as the Archbishop of New York since 2009. Cardinal Dolan turned 75 in February 2025, the mandatory age for Catholic bishops to submit their retirement letter … This transition should serve as more than just a headline for Greek Orthodox Christians; it should be a catalyst for long-overdue reform. As the Psalmist has declared: ‘As for the days of our years, in their span they are seventy, and if we have strength perhaps eighty; and what is more than these is toil and travail.’”

Read Fr. Alexander Karloutsos’s full piece at the link in the comments below. Photo by Archons/Orthodox Observer/J. Mindala.

12/16/2025

On Friday evening, December 12, 2025, faithful from Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches gathered at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Paramus, New Jersey, for the Annual Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCh) Pan-Orthodox Christmas Concert, hosted by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Dionysios John Kawak of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of the Eastern United States.

The evening was a powerful witness to the shared faith, prayer, and hope that unite Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christians as they prepare to celebrate the Holy Nativity of our Lord.

During the concert His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America underscored the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s steadfast commitment to dialogue with the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

“Beyond this anniversary, we rejoice that our relations as sister Churches have grown even stronger. Earlier this year, we celebrated together the Feast of Christ’s Resurrection, the victory of life over death,” His Eminence said.

Photos courtesy of Dimitry Faltas. The full story by the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations can be found at the link in the comments below.

12/16/2025

12/15/2025

It was in 1960, at St. Constantine and Helen Church in Detroit (now Westland), that Angelo Kircos‘s chanting ministry truly began.

When meeting Kircos—whether in person or across a Zoom screen—you feel the exuberance and joy of a man who has spent his life in service to his church, his family and his faith.

At 98 years old, his smile remains bright, his eyes wide with joy, and his voice strong, even after decades of chanting the hymns of the Greek Orthodox Church. Angelo jokes about his years, but his son Lazaros says, “You’re not old! You’re not even 100!” Lazaros is right; there is nothing old about Angelo.

Angelo remembers every detail of his life in Greece and in America, speaking with clarity and pride about coming to the US in 1955 with his young family to give them a chance for a better life.

Today, Angelo continues to serve as the chanter at St. George Church in Southgate, Michigan, where he is believed to be the oldest active chanter in the country—perhaps even the world. He can be seen at his stand on Sundays and throughout the week–a treasure to his community, to chanters, to his family and to the entirety of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Read the full story at the link in the comments below. Photos courtesy of the Kircos family and by Orthodox Observer/Marissa Costidis.

12/15/2025

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine on Sunday, Dec. 14, on the Sunday of the Forefathers.

On the Sunday of the Forefathers, His Eminence stated, we remember all the righteous figures from the Old Testament, whose lives and character revealed, in a prophetic manner, something of the mystery of the Coming of the Christ.

“​​In every case, their lives tell the story of God’s continual outreach to the human family, and His desire to include everyone in His Household and in His Kingdom,” His Eminence stated.

“This Christmas, my friends, let us be like the Holy Forefathers and Foremothers whom we celebrate this day. They sought to bring others to God, and we can do the same. With a simple loving word, with a phone call to someone we have ignored, with an invitation that is overdue. We can reach out and spread the message of God’s inclusive and embracing love in the world, in the little world that each of us inhabits daily.”

Photos by Orthodox Observer/Dimitrios Panagos

12/12/2025

What does it mean to be Greek American? Lily Talmers explores this question by blending Americana folk music with Greek rebetika melodies. “The songs help me seek connection to both things,” Talmers said. “I write music to be able to access music more deeply. Greek music is always a part of that vision.”

Story by Sara Tsugranis
Photos courtesy of Alex Brown & Bailey Lecat

12/12/2025

12/09/2025

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America was filled with joyful faithful on Monday, December 8, 2025 for the Christmas Open House. Now an annual tradition, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of American welcomed clergy, families and the Greek Orthodox community to sing Christmas carols, enjoy festive decorations, and share the joy of the season with friends and acquaintances.

Special guests at this year’s celebration included Greece’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Theoharis, Consul General of Greece in New York Iphigenia Kanara, and Consul General of Cyprus in New York Kyriakos Pogiatzis. Deputy Minister Theoharis and the Consul Generals were delighted to take part in the joyous event, greeting attendees and joining with the Archbishop in singing both Greek and American Christmas Carols.

Addressing those gathered, Archbishop Elpidophoros expressed his personal joy at seeing so many faithful come to “the center of their faith in America, their Archdiocese” to celebrate the Nativity alongside clergy and the dedicated Archdiocese staff. He noted that today’s celebration is an opportunity to be physically together, to celebrate the season—a chance to talk with one another, to share embraces, and to step away for a time from the “digital.”

Video by Orthodox Observer