Abp. Elpidophoros Calls Faithful to 'Rise and Build' at Clergy-Laity Congress

CLEVELAND — Calling on Greek Orthodox Christians across the United States to embrace a shared mission of renewal, Abp. Elpidophoros of America opened the 48th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress on June 30 with a sweeping address centered on the biblical call to "Rise and Build."

Speaking before clergy, hierarchs, delegates, and members of the National Philoptochos Society at the Huntington Convention Center, Abp. Elpidophoros invoked the example of the Prophet Nehemiah and urged the faithful to strengthen the Church through unity, service, and shared sacrifice.

"The theme for our Gathering – our embodiment of the Ecclesia of God in this Congress is: 'Rise and Build,'" the Archbishop said. Recalling the response of the people of Jerusalem to Nehemiah's call, he added, "When spurred by the words of the Prophet, the people replied with one voice and one heart . . . 'Let us rise and build.'"

Throughout his address, Abp. Elpidophoros emphasized that the challenges facing the Church in America can only be addressed collectively. "The whole purpose of this Clergy-Laity Congress is to bring us together . . . so that we join with one another to build up our churches across the country," he said.

The Archbishop reviewed developments across the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America since the previous Clergy-Laity Congress, including increased clergy ordinations, expanded youth and camping ministries, renewed efforts in theological education, inter-Orthodox and interfaith engagement, and the restructuring of national ministries based on extensive surveys of clergy and laity.

He devoted a particularly heartfelt portion of his remarks to parish clergy and their families, praising their often-unseen sacrifices. "My beloved clergy, you know better than anyone that your ministry is not a profession; it is a sacrificial offering," he said. He added that clergy spouses "bear the weight of these sacrifices with grace, patience, and love."

Addressing contemporary challenges, Abp. Elpidophoros rejected calls for Christian isolationism, declaring, "The so-called 'Benedict Option' is no option at all. We cannot retreat from the world into some sort of Pharisaism or even worse, a Christian Hasidism. Isolationism is not the path of Gospel."

Concluding his address, the Archbishop returned to the theme of collective responsibility and mutual support. Quoting the Book of Nehemiah, he urged delegates to continue their work together: "And their hands were strengthened for the good work."

Previously, the UOJ reported that Abp. Elpidophoros threw the first pitch at Greek Jersey Night.