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# Abp. Elpidophoros Celebrates Liturgy at 49th Folk Dance and Choral Festival
- URL: https://uoj.news/news/86457-abp-elpidophoros-celebrates-liturgy-at-49th-fdf/
- Published: 2026-02-16T10:15:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-25T16:11:58.000Z
- Description: The 49th Folk Dance and Choral Festival (FDF) opened its final day with a Divine Liturgy emphasizing faith, unity, and the festival theme of “SHINE.”
- Author: Tobias Straney
- Tags: #Category: News, Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis), Folk Dance and Choral Festival

**PHOENIX, AZ —** The [final day](https://orthodoxobserver.org/fdf-participants-express-shared-faith-at-sunday-liturgy/) of the Metropolis of San Francisco’s 49th Annual Greek Orthodox Folk Dance and Choral Festival (FDF) began with a Divine Liturgy celebrated in the event’s main ballroom, uniting dancers, families, and clergy in worship. The gathering, filling the space nearly to capacity, emphasized the festival’s spirit of joy and shared faith rather than competition.

His Eminence Abp. Elpidophoros of America presided over the liturgy alongside Metr. Gerasimos, Metr. Kyrillos, and Bp. Ioannis of Phocaea, joined by numerous priests of the Metropolis of San Francisco.

[![](https://uoj.news/content/images/2026/02/86457-abp-elpidophoros-celebrates-liturgy-at-49th-fdf-image-487c01ee1984.jpg)On this topicAbp. Elpidophoros Unveils Vision for Greek Orthodox Archdiocese](https://uoj.news/news/86366-abp-elpidophoros-unveils-vision-for-greek-orthodox-archdiocese/)

In his homily, Abp. Elpidophoros connected the Gospel reading to FDF’s theme, “SHINE,” encouraging attendees to recognize and reflect the spark of God in every human soul. He described the liturgy as “the practice ground for all of us to cultivate this kind of vision,” highlighting the festival’s integration of faith, culture, and community.

Previously, the [UOJ reported](https://uoj.news/news/86360-abp-elpidophoros-highlights-legacy-of-leadership-100-at-phoenix-conference/) that Abp. Elpidophoros highlighted the legacy of Leadership 100 at the Phoenix conference.