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Encyclical sent by Bishop Sotirios of Toronto,
Archiepiscopal Vicar General of the Archdiocese of America,
on the election of a new Archbishop of America

( July 30, 1996 )

Prot. No. 29

July 30, 1996

To the Reverend Clergy and the Faithful
of the Holy Archdiocese of America (U.S.A.)

Beloved:

The Sacred and Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate unanimously and with canonical votes elected today, July 30, 1996, His Eminence Metropolitan Spyridon of Italy as Archbishop of America succeeding Archbishop Iakovos who has retired.

Today, by telegram, our new Archbishop asked my humble person to assume the duties of the Archiepiscopal Vicar General until his arrival and enthronement which will take place at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of Holy Trinity (319 East 74th Street, New York, NY) on Saturday, September 21 at 11:00 a.m.

With this encyclical, I wish to bring to your attention the above and ask for the following:

  • Effective today, during the holy services taking place within the Archdiocesan district and within the widowed Dioceses of Atlanta and Detroit, as well, you will commemorate only the name of the new Archbishop as follows: "...our Archbishop Spyridon", while within the other Dioceses you will commemorate "...our Archbishop Spyridon and our Bishop (name)...". Similarly, "...among the first, Lord, remember" within the Archdiocesan district and the widowed Dioceses of Atlanta and Detroit, you will commemorate only the Archbishop, while within the other Dioceses you will commemorate "...among the first, Lord, remember our Archbishop Spyridon and our Bishop (name)... keep them safe, honorable and in health for many years, rightly teaching the word of Your truth...".
    The pheme of the Archbishop is as follows: "Spyridon, the Most Reverend God-Chosen Archbishop of the Holy Archdiocese of America, Right Honorable Exarch of the lands in the Atlantic and the Pacific, our Spiritual Father and Shepherd, many years."
  • Please distribute to the mass media the enclosed Patriarchal Press Release and Biographical Profile.
  • Please make every effort to participate in the enthronement of our new Archbishop.
  • Please pray fervently to our Lord to grant our new spiritual leader health and strength, and
  • Pray thankfully to God for the guidance He has provided to His All Holiness and the Holy and Sacred Synod in the election of the New Archbishop.

With fatherly love,

[ signed ]

†  Bishop Sotirios of Toronto

Archiepiscopal Vicar General

of the Holy Archdiocese of America