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# Metr. Philotheos Visits St. Nicholas National Shrine During U.S. Visit
- URL: https://uoj.news/news/metr-philotheos-visits-st-nicholas-national-shrine-during-u-s-visit/
- Published: 2026-06-27T15:59:21.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-25T16:13:35.000Z
- Description: The Greek hierarch made his first official visit to the United States as a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate ahead of GOARCH's Clergy-Laity Congress.
- Author: Tobias Straney
- Tags: #Category: News, Ecumenical Patriarch, GOARCH, Archpastoral Visit, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine

**NEW YORK —** St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine welcomed Metr. Philotheos of Thessaloniki on June 25 during his [first visit to the United States](https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story%5Ffbid=1409972074496328&id=100064506470128&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=3DbkBlNmOi3ImaQh#) as a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in connection with the 48th Clergy-Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOARCH).

The visiting hierarch was received by the Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne and Archiepiscopal Vicar of the National Shrine, Fr. Andreas Vithoulkas. Accompanying Metr. Philotheos were Archdeacon Fr. Dionysios Papiris of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Archimandrite Fr. Damaskinos Petikas, dean of St. Demetrios, the patronal church of Thessaloniki.

[![](https://uoj.news/content/images/2025/12/metr-philotheos-visits-st-nicholas-national-shrine-during-u-s-visit-image-c10387e6feef.webp)On this topicGOARCH Sets 2026 Clergy-Laity Congress for Cleveland](https://uoj.news/news/85766-goarch-sets-2026-clergy-laity-congress-for-cleveland/)

During the visit, Dimitrios Katsiklis, the master chanter of St. Nicholas National Shrine, conducted a tour of the church and shrine complex. The visit formed part of Metr. Philotheos' participation in the Clergy-Laity Congress, where he is serving as an official representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The visit highlighted the continuing ties between the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Church of Greece, and GOARCH prior to one of the largest gatherings of Orthodox clergy and laity in North America.

Previously, the [UOJ reported](https://uoj.news/news/87036-archdeacon-dionysios-papiris-named-director-of-archbishops-office/) that Archdeacon Dionysios Papiris was named director of the Archbishop's office.