Orthodox Observer

09/17/2026

The National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians will celebrate National Church Music Sunday on October 4, 2026.

This annual celebration occurs the first Sunday after the observance of the feast day of St. Romanos, the patronsSaint of the National Forum and church musicians, which falls on October 1st and continues throughout the month of October. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America sets this day aside each year to recognize and honor all of its church musicians.

The National Forum invites parishes throughout the Archdiocese to celebrate their musicians. Materials to celebrate National Church Music Sunday are made available to parish priests, choirs directors, parish council and Philoptochos, with the National Forum website listing 21 celebration ideas, commemoratives available from the National Forum, prayers for church musicians, and additional materials that support the development and education of church musicians, including many materials created specifically for youth.

Read more at the link in our bio. Photo by Orthodox Observer/Dimitrios Panagos

09/16/2026

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros performed an agiasmos service of blessing for the new offices of the Huffington Ecumenical Institute (HEI) at Hellenic College Holy Cross. His Eminence was joined in officially opening the new office space by Archon-elect Hon. Michael Huffington, HEI’s chief benefactor, and Archon George Cantonis, former President of Hellenic College Holy Cross.

Speaking afterwards, His Eminence expressed his deepest gratitude for the generosity of Mr. Huffington, commending him as an outstanding example of sharing what we have in support of advancing the Church’s visionary initiatives. Mr. Huffington then affirmed his ongoing investment in the future of HEI by signing a new agreement of support with Hellenic College Holy Cross.

🇬🇷 Τον αγιασμό των νέων γραφείων του Οικουμενικού Ινστιτούτου Huffington (HEI) στη Θεολογική Σχολή του Τιμίου Σταυρού (HCHC) τέλεσε, το βράδυ της 14ης Σεπτεμβρίου, ο Σεβασμιώτατος Αρχιεπίσκοπος Αμερικής κ. Ελπιδοφόρος. Στην επίσημη έναρξη λειτουργίας των νέων γραφείων παρέστησαν επίσης ο Μάικλ Χάφινγκτον (Michael Huffington), που πρόκειται να ανακηρυχθεί Άρχων και ο οποίος αποτελεί τον σημαντικότερο ευεργέτη του Ινστιτούτου, καθώς και ο Άρχων Γεώργιος Καντώνης, τέως πρόεδρος της Θεολογικής Σχολής του Τιμίου Σταυρού.

Στην ομιλία του μετά τον αγιασμό, ο Σεβασμιώτατος εξέφρασε τη βαθιά ευγνωμοσύνη του προς τον κ. Χάφινγκτον για τη γενναιόδωρη προσφορά του, χαρακτηρίζοντάς τον λαμπρό παράδειγμα ανθρώπου ο οποίος στηρίζει έμπρακτα το όραμα και το έργο της Εκκλησίας. Στη συνέχεια, ο κ. Χάφινγκτον επιβεβαίωσε τη σταθερή του υποστήριξη, υπογράφοντας μια νέα συμφωνία οικονομικής ενίσχυσης με τη Θεολογική Σχολή του Τιμίου Σταυρού.

Read the full article at the link in the comments below. Photos by Orthodox Observer/Dimitrios Panagos

09/15/2026

In celebration of the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross, the Order of AHEPA, led by Supreme President E. Chris Kaitson, spearheaded $250,000 worth of scholarships for seminarians attending the Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Representing AHEPA on this incredible occasion, Supreme Secretary Themistocles Frangos attended the celebration on behalf of the Supreme President, speaking to the clergy and remarking the significance of the school. Additionally, Supreme Governor Greg Simones and AHEPA Board of Trustees Secretary Alex Geourntas joined the Supreme Secretary for this celebration of faith and philanthropy.

The scholarships were made possible by the AHEPA Educational Foundation via funds raised by the Supreme President and through the John George Tsitsos Scholarship Fund – an incredibly generous endowment designed to enable students of Hellenic descent to pursue their educational goals for years to come.

Read more at the link in our bio. Photo by Orthodox Observer/Dimitrios Panagos.

09/15/2026

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church New York City is kicking off its Greek School (Pre-K to 12) on Saturday, Sept. 19.

“The goal of Annunciation Church’s Greek School is to teach the Greek language while fostering a strong connection to Hellenic heritage. Our curriculum is designed to accommodate students of diverse backgrounds and varying levels of language proficiency,” said Fr. Sotirios Michalatos, parish priest of Annunciation Church. “In addition to language instruction, the program emphasizes Greek history and culture, helping students thrive in American society while taking pride in their Greek roots.”

Read more at the link in the comments below ⬇️ Photo by Orthodox Observer/Dimitrios Panagos

09/14/2026

35 Years of Patriarchal Mistry: Honoring Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Tune into the colloquium hosted by the Huffington Ecumenical Institute at 7:45 p.m. EST.

Honoring His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew: 35 Year...

09/14/2026

25 years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero held a memorial service honoring the lives lost on one of the darkest days in American history.

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the interfaith memorial service, reflecting on the legacy of the only house of worship destroyed during the attack.

Find the mayor’s full address at our YouTube. Video by Orthodox Observer/Alkis Tzortzoglou & Salvatore Ambrosino

09/10/2026

On the morning of September 10, 2026, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America was greeted by students outside of the St. Demetrios and Greek American School of Astoria. Within the historic St. Demetrios Cathedral, as well as at Saints Catherine and George Greek Orthodox Church, His Eminence gave the Agiasmos for the new school year, blessing the community’s students and families, alongside school faculty and staff.

His Eminence offered the blessing as St. Demetrios School opens its doors to hundreds of students this year, with the mission of preserving the Greek language and Hellenic identity. The St. Demetrios School is the only institution in the United States offering a Greek Orthodox K–12 education, inspiring the next generation of Greek American families to live as faithful Orthodox Christians.

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

09/10/2026

More than fifty clergy of the Metropolis of New Jersey gathered at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, to welcome His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America for a luncheon and clergy meeting.

The Archbishop was greeted by the Acting Chancellor of the Metropolis of New Jersey, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Fr. Elias Villis, Cathedral Dean Very Rev. Fr. Christoforos Oikonomidis, and clergy from throughout the Metropolis. The gathering began with a prayer service inside the cathedral, where the clergy assembled beneath the church’s beautifully adorned iconography for a blessing.

Read more about the clergy meeting at the link in the comments below. Photos by Orthodox Observer/Yannis Malevitis

09/10/2026

On the night of Sept. 8, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the Metropolis of New Jersey hosted a farewell banquet honoring the ministry of His Eminence Apostolos, newly-elected Archbishop of Canada and former Metropolitan of New Jersey.

Archbishop-elect Apostolos offered a farewell address, expressing gratitude to God for giving him the strength and energy to serve the Metropolis of New Jersey. He closed his remarks with a message to the faithful:

“I will never forget my ministry in the New Jersey Metropolis,”Archbishop-elect Apostolos said. “You’re amazing people … Don’t lose your faith. Keep your faith strong and your ministry visible to everyone in this beautiful Metropolis. I love you and I pray for you.”

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

09/09/2026

🎥 WATCH: On Sunday, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Saint John the Forerunner in Brooklyn, New York, commemorating the 70th birthday of Rev. Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Fr. Oleksandr Belya.

Read more at the link in the comments below ⬇️ Video by Orthodox Observer/Salvatore Ambrosino.