Assembly of Bishops Concelebrate Divine Liturgy in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — Hierarchs from the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America gathered at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Pittsburgh on October 4 for a pan-Orthodox celebration of the Divine Liturgy attended by more than 300 faithful from the area.

Attending hierarchs, sorted by jurisdiction, were:

Orthodox Church in America

Abp. Michael of New York and New Jersey, Abp. Mark of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, Abp. Melchizedek of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, Bp. Nikodhim of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese, Abp. Nathaniel of Detroit (Romanian Episcopate), and Bp. Andrei of Cleveland (Romanian Episcopate)

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Abp. Elpidophoros of America, Metr. Savas of Pittsburgh, Metr. Sevastianos of Atlanta, Bp. Nektarios of Diokleia, Metr. Gregory of Nyssa (American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese), and Bp. Theophan of Philomelion (Albanian Diocese)

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

Bp. Thomas of Charleston, Oakland, and the Mid-Atlantic

Serbian Orthodox Church

Bp. Irinej of Washington-New York and Eastern America and Bp. Serafim of New Gracanica-Midwestern America

Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church in North America

Bp. Saba

That accounts for 16 out of the 56 total bishops who are part of the Assembly (hierarchs of the Moscow Patriarchate and Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia have not been participating in the Assembly since the break in communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate was enacted).

However, additional hierarchs have arrived to take part in the Assembly's meetings which are happening this week. A full list of participating bishops has not yet been released.

Concelebrating clergy serving with the aforementioned bishops were Fr. George Callos, Fr. Eleftherios Constantine, Fr. Nicholas Anton, Fr. Ieronymos Katamadze, Archdeacon Dionysios Papiris, and Archdeacon Ryan Gzikowski.

The St. Nicholas Cathedral chanters, led by Amy Hogg, chanted Orthros, while the Pan-Orthodox Choir of Pittsburgh, directed by Archpriest Thomas Soroka, sang the Divine Liturgy.

Bp. Irinej delivered the homily, emphasizing the Christian calling to love others as Christ loves. “Where love is present, God will also be there present,” he said, adding that “where God is present, there too is love, for He is love.”

At the conclusion of the service, Abp. Elpidophoros presented the Medal of St. Theodora, the Assembly’s highest recognition, to Anne van den Berg for her service to Orthodox Christian unity in the United States. Mark Arey, the other 2026 recipient, was unable to attend in person. Following the Liturgy, the hierarchs joined the clergy and faithful for a reception hosted by the cathedral community.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the 14th meeting of the Assembly of Canonical Bishops concluded in Colorado last year.