Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey

08/10/2026

His Eminence, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, invites the Faithful and Friends of the Sacred Metropolis of New Jersey to a Dinner in Honor of His Eminence, Archbishop Apostolos of Canada, September 8, 2026, at 5.30 pm, at the Venetian, in Garfield, New Jersey.

Follow the link to purchase tickets on GiveButter

By Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey

08/01/2026

07/24/2026

My Beloved Brother Clergy,

It is with a heavy heart, yet with steadfast hope in the Resurrection, that I write to inform you of the falling asleep in the Lord of another one of our beloved brothers. This Friday morning, our brother and concelebrant, the Rev. Protopresbyter John Manuel, Proistamenos of St. Nicholas Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia, fell asleep in the Lord. Trusting in the goodness of God and His divine providence, we commend the soul of Fr. John to Christ, who "is risen from the dead and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep."

Fr. John was a joy-filled servant of the Lord who faithfully shepherded his flock with love, compassion, and unwavering dedication. He was also a cherished brother priest whose kindness, wisdom, and encouragement strengthened us all in our ministry. His passing will be deeply felt throughout our clergy brotherhood and across our sacred Metropolis of New Jersey.

His Eminence, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, extends his paternal love and heartfelt condolences to Presvytera Karen; their children and grandchildren; the entire Manuel family; and especially to our brother clergy, their sons, Fr. Thomas Manuel and Fr. Nicholas Manuel, as well as their son-in-law, Fr. Savvas Mandeville. His Eminence asks all of our clergy brotherhood to join him in offering fervent prayers for the repose of the servant of God, John the Protopresbyter.

Further information regarding the funeral arrangements will be shared as soon as it becomes available.

May our Lord grant rest to the soul of His faithful servant, the Protopresbyter John, in a place of light, a place of green pasture, and a place of refreshment, where all sickness, sorrow, and sighing have fled away.
Αἰωνία αὐτοῦ ἡ μνήμη!
May his memory be eternal!

07/23/2026

Communiqué of the Holy Eparchial Synod, July 22, 2026:

His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros presided today over an extraordinary session of the Holy Eparchial Synod, convened by videoconference following the joyful announcement of the election of His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey as Archbishop of Canada.

The Archbishop and the members of the Holy Eparchial Synod expressed their profound gratitude to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and to the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Mother Church for the selection of one of the Hierarchs of our Sacred Archdiocese and a member of the Holy Eparchial Synod as the successor to Archbishop Sotirios in this most significant Eparchy of the Ecumenical Throne.

Accordingly, the procedure prescribed by the relevant provisions of the Charter of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America was initiated. With the concurrence of the members of the Holy Eparchial Synod, the Archbishop was appointed Locum Tenens of the now-vacant Holy Metropolis of New Jersey. The matter of electing a new Metropolitan for the Holy Metropolis will be discussed at a forthcoming session of the Holy Eparchial Synod.

Finally, effective immediately, the clergy of the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey are instructed to commemorate, in accordance with the prescribed ecclesiastical order, the venerable name of the Ecumenical Patriarch at all divine services and sacred rites.

From the Chief Secretariat

GRE 🇬🇷

Ο Σεβ. Αρχιεπίσκοπος κ. Ελπιδοφόρος προήδρευσε σήμερα στη συνεδρία της Ιεράς Επαρχιακής Συνόδου, συγκληθείσα, εκτάκτως μέσω τηλεδιάσκεψης μετά την αναγγελίαν της χαρμοσύνου ειδήσεως της εκλογής του μέχρι τούδε Σεβ. Μητροπολίτου Νέας Ιερσέης κ. Αποστόλου εις ΑρχιεπίσκοπονΚαναδά.

Ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος και τα μέλη της Επαρχιακής Συνόδου εξέφρασαν την ευγνωμοσύνην των προς την Α. Θ. Παναγιότητα τον Οικουμενικόν Πατριάρχην κ. κ. Βαρθολομαίον και την περί Αυτόν Αγίαν και Ιεράν Σύνοδον της Μητρός Εκκλησίας δια την επιλογήν ενός εκ των Ιεραρχών της Ι. ημών Αρχιεπισκοπής και μέλους της Επαρχιακής Συνόδου ως διαδόχου του Αρχιεπισκόπου Σωτηρίου εις την τόσον σημαντικήν επαρχίαν ταύτην του Οικουμενικού Θρόνου.

Κατόπιν τούτου, εκινήθη η προβλεπομένη εκ των οικείων διατάξεων του ισχύοντος Συντάγματος της Ι. Αρχιεπισκοπής διαδικασία, και ως Τοποτηρητής της χηρευούσης πλέον Ι. Μητροπόλεως Νέας Ιερσέης, κατόπιν διαγνώμης των μελών της Ι. Επαρχιακής Συνόδου, ορίσθη ο Αρχιεπίσκοπος, ενώ το θέμα της πληρώσεως της Ι. ταύτης Μητροπόλεως θα συζητηθεί είς προσεχή συνεδρίαν.

Τέλος, από σήμερον καλούνται οι ιερείς της Ι. Μητροπόλεως Νέας Ιερσέης όπως μνημονεύουν εις απάσας τας ιεράς ακολουθίας και ιεροπραξίας, κατά την τάξιν, του σεπτού ονόματος του Οικουμενικού Πατριάρχου.

Εκ της Αρχιγραμματείας

07/22/2026

The Very Reverend and Reverend Clergy of the Sacred Metropolis of New Jersey,
The Members of the Metropolis of New Jersey Council,
The Members of the Metropolis of New Jersey Philoptochos Society,
and All the Faithful of the Sacred Metropolis of New Jersey
extend our most heartfelt congratulations to His Eminence, Archbishop-Elect Apostolos of Canada, upon his election and elevation by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

With one voice, we proclaim:

ΑΞΙΟΣ! ΑΞΙΟΣ! ΑΞΙΟΣ!

We are deeply grateful that, in elevating him to this distinguished ministry, our Mother Church has recognized the tireless dedication, pastoral care, and faithful service of this devoted Hierarch. Over the past three years, we have been blessed to know His Eminence as a true Spiritual Father and Chief Shepherd of our Sacred Metropolis, whose wisdom, compassion, and steadfast leadership have enriched the lives of our clergy and faithful alike.

While this is a bittersweet moment for the Sacred Metropolis of New Jersey, we offer His Eminence our heartfelt prayers and best wishes as he begins this new chapter of his hierarchical ministry. May our Lord continue to strengthen him with abundant wisdom, unwavering faith, fatherly love, and every spiritual gift as he shepherds the faithful of the Holy Archdiocese of Canada.

Once again, we joyfully proclaim:

ΑΞΙΟΣ! ΑΞΙΟΣ! ΑΞΙΟΣ!

07/19/2026

On Sunday, July 19, 2026, the Sunday of the 630 God-Bearing Fathers of Fourth Ecumenical Council, His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Theologian in Tenafly, New Jersey. His Eminence presided over a memorial service in memory of the victims of the illegal Turkish Invasion of Cyprus of 1974.

Following the service, the Federation of Cypriot American Organizations hosted a reception to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the invasion. Children of the Lampousa Cypriot American organization and their Preisdent Mr. Stavros Kamilaris, presented poems to begin the afternoon's proceedings. The guest speakers that followed included Dr. Panos Stavrianidis, President of the Hellenic Federation of New Jersey, Mr. Philip Christopher, President of the International Coordinating Committee - Justice for Cyprus, Mrs. Iphigenia Kanara, Consul General of Greece in New York, Mr. Kyriakos Pogiatzis, Consul General of the Republic of Cyprus in New York, H.E. Aglaia Balta, Permanent Representative of Greece to the U.N., and H.E. Maria Michail, Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the U.N.

Below is His Eminence’s Archpastoral homily on the occasion of the feast of the Holy Fathers and the 52nd anniversary of the illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus:

“Today, on the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council, our Holy Church commemorates the 630 God-bearing Fathers who gathered in Chalcedon in the year 451 to proclaim and defend the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is perfect God and perfect Man, united in one divine Person. Their witness reminds us that the truth of Christ is not merely a theological proposition but the very source of our salvation and the foundation of our life in the Church.

In today’s Holy Gospel, our Lord speaks to His disciples saying: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). He calls us to allow His light to shine through our lives: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

The Holy Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council fulfilled this commandment with courage and humility. They preserved the integrity of the apostolic faith so that every generation might encounter the true Christ, who is the One who took upon Himself our humanity in order to grant us eternal life. As Saint John declares, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Our salvation rests upon this profound mystery of God’s love.

The Fathers teach us that faithfulness to Christ demands both conviction and witness. They remind us that the Church is called to be a light in every age. This means a light that dispels confusion, heals divisions, and proclaims the saving truth of the Gospel.

Today, that same light of Christ calls us to remember those who have suffered injustice and tragedy. Following the Divine Liturgy, we will offer a Memorial Service marking the anniversary of the tragic events of July 1974 in Cyprus. Together, we remember all those who lost their lives, those who remain missing, and the thousands of families who were displaced from their ancestral homes as a result of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

This sacred remembrance has been organized by the Cyprus Federation of New York and New Jersey, whose devoted efforts ensure that the sacrifices and sufferings of the Cypriot people are neither forgotten nor diminished by the passage of time. We are grateful for their faithful stewardship of this sacred memory and for their commitment to educating future generations about the enduring struggles and hopes of Cyprus.

As Orthodox Christians, we remember not to cultivate bitterness but to cultivate prayer. We pray for justice without hatred, for peace without compromise of truth, and for reconciliation rooted in the dignity of every human person. Saint Paul reminds us that “if one member suffers, all suffer together” (1 Corinthians 12:26). The pain of Cyprus is not only a Cypriot pain; it is the pain of the entire Body of Christ.

The Holy Fathers whom we commemorate today understood well that truth carries with it both sacrifice and responsibility. They endured opposition in order to preserve the faith entrusted to the Church. Likewise, we are called to preserve the memory of those who suffered for their homeland, their faith, and their families, while remaining steadfast in our Christian vocation as peacemakers. Our Lord Himself proclaims, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).

Even amid tragedy, the Gospel never permits us to surrender to despair. Our hope is found in the Resurrection of Christ. The occupied churches of Cyprus, the desecrated monasteries, and the enduring witness of its faithful people testify that neither time nor adversity can extinguish the light of Christ. The light shines in the darkness, “and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5).

May the prayers of the Holy Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council strengthen us to remain faithful witnesses of Christ’s truth and love. May the Lord grant eternal memory to all those who perished in Cyprus, consolation to those who mourn, and His precious gift of peace and justice to the island of Cyprus and to the entire world.

Amen.”

07/19/2026

My beloved Rev. brothers,

I am deeply saddened to share with you that our beloved brother , the Rev. Protopresbyter Andrew Eugenis, Proistamenos of Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Ocean, New Jersey, fell asleep in the Lord in the early hours of this Sunday morning.

With hearts filled with sorrow, yet strengthened by our unwavering faith in the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend the soul of our beloved Fr. Andrew into the loving embrace of God. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:14).

Fr. Andrew was not only a devoted priest and faithful shepherd of the people entrusted to his care, but also a cherished brother, friend, and colleague whose ministry touched countless lives with love, humility, and pastoral compassion. His priestly witness and unwavering commitment to Christ and His Holy Church will remain a lasting blessing to the faithful of our Holy Metropolis and beyond.
His Eminence, Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey, extends his paternal love and deepest condolences to Presvytera Angela, their beloved children, and the entire Eugenis family. In this moment of profound loss, we embrace them with our prayers and ask our merciful Lord to grant them strength, consolation, and His abiding peace. May they find comfort in the words of our Savior: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25).

His Eminence is asking all of our beloved clergy to remember Fr. Andrew, Presvytera Angela, and their children in your personal prayers and during the Divine Services of the coming days. Let us stand together as one priestly family, offering our love, support, and fervent supplications for the repose of his soul and the consolation of those who mourn.

Further information regarding the funeral arrangements will be shared as soon as it becomes available.

May our Lord grant rest to the soul of His faithful servant, Protopresbyter Andrew, in a place of brightness, a place of verdure, and a place of repose, where all sickness, sorrow, and sighing have fled away.
Αἰωνία αὐτοῦ ἡ μνήμη!

Conveying to you His Eminence’s Paternal Blessings and praying that our Risen Lord grant rest to His Servant, our Brother and Concelebrant, Andrew the Protopresbyter, I remain,

At the Direction of the Metropolitan,

+Rev. Protopresbyter Gregory Gilbert
Chancellor, Metropolis of New Jersey

07/13/2026

His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos Opens the 2026 Good Shepherd Summer Camp with the Service of Agiasmos

On Sunday evening, July 12, His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos visited the Metropolis of New Jersey’s Good Shepherd Summer Camp in Maryland to officially inaugurate the 2026 camping season. Upon his arrival, His Eminence received a heartfelt welcome from the camp clergy, counselors, volunteers, and the many campers who had gathered with great joy to receive their spiritual father.

The evening began with the Service of Agiasmos, during which His Eminence prayed for God’s abundant blessings upon the camp, asking the Lord to protect all who would participate throughout the summer and to grant them growth in faith, wisdom, and Christian love. As the Holy Scriptures remind us, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). With the blessing of the Church, the new camp session commenced under the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Following the service, His Eminence addressed the campers with warmth and fatherly affection. He expressed his sincere gratitude to the clergy, counselors, staff, and countless volunteers whose faithful dedication and sacrificial service make the ministry of Good Shepherd Camp possible year after year. He reminded everyone that their labor is not simply an investment in a summer program, but in the spiritual formation of the next generation of Orthodox Christians.

Speaking directly to the young people, His Eminence offered a thoughtful reflection on the name “Christian.” He explained that the word Christ carries profound meaning and has long been recognized as the title of the Anointed One. He encouraged the campers never to take for granted the privilege of bearing the name Christian, reminding them that it is both a great blessing and a sacred calling. “You are blessed to be called Christians,” he said, encouraging them to live each day in a manner worthy of the name they bear.

Quoting the words of the Apostle Peter, His Eminence reminded the campers, “If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name” (1 Peter 4:16). He also encouraged them with the words of Saint Paul: “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). Through prayer, participation in the Holy Mysteries, and lives marked by love and compassion, he urged the campers to become faithful witnesses of Christ in their homes, schools, parishes, and communities.

Following his address, His Eminence remained with the campers, sharing dinner and fellowship with them. His presence among the children and youth reflected the loving and pastoral ministry of the Church, fostering an atmosphere of joy, unity, and spiritual encouragement as the camp season began.

The visit concluded with gratitude to Almighty God for the blessing of Good Shepherd Camp and with prayers that every camper may grow “in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52), returning home renewed in faith, strengthened in friendship, and inspired to follow Christ with all their hearts.

07/13/2026

His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos Visits Sts. Peter and Paul Parish

On Sunday, July 12, His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos traveled from New Jersey to make a pastoral visit to the faithful of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Maryland where he was warmly welcomed by the parish priest, Fr. John, together with the members of the Parish Council and the devoted faithful of the community.

His Eminence presided over the Divine Liturgy and, in his inspiring homily, reflected on the Gospel according to St. Matthew recounting the healing of the paralytic. He reminded the faithful that the Lord not only restored the man’s physical health but also first granted him the forgiveness of his sins, revealing that true healing begins with the restoration of our relationship with God. His Eminence encouraged everyone to approach Christ with faith, trusting in His mercy and seeking both spiritual and physical healing through prayer, repentance, and participation in the sacramental life of the Church.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the parish family gathered for a beautiful fellowship luncheon in honor of His Eminence’s visit. The community expressed its heartfelt gratitude for his fatherly love, pastoral guidance, and continued support of the parish. His Eminence, in turn, thanked Fr. John, the Parish Council, and all the faithful for their warm hospitality, their steadfast commitment to the life of the Church, and their joyful witness to the Orthodox faith.

The visit concluded in an atmosphere of Christian love and fellowship, strengthening the bonds between the shepherd and his flock and leaving the faithful spiritually renewed and encouraged in their walk with Christ.