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Orthodox Observer - October 1996

Grand Gesture of Love Sets Tone of Change

By Fr. George Papaioannou

It had all the ingredients of a human drama with a touch of the Divine. We had just marched into the historic Holy Trinity Archdiocesan Cathedral in New York City preceding the entry of Archbishop Spyridon for his enthronement ceremony.

The jubilation the Byzantine pageantry with its soul elevating music had helped raise one's joy to its highest level. We all were in anticipation of the entry of the new spiritual leader as a symbolism and proclamation of a brighter future for Greek Orthodoxy in America.

The past and even the present are about ready to give way to the future, but not yet, not without the blessing of the past which is represented in the person of its leader, Archbishop Iakovos, who enters this magnificent setting to make the heartbeat of the congregation faster and remind it of its glory days. Being the master of these people's emotions, and the calmer of their fears, he walks slowly into the Cathedral that had been his spiritual castle for 37 years.

Unlike other times, he is not directing his steps towards his throne. About a year ago he chose to give it up or, rather, to allow a younger hierarch to take over both the throne and the reign of the Archdiocese he had so dearly loved. He is escorted to a chair opposite his former hierarchical throne to witness the ceremony of the ascent on it of his successor.

He comes only as a guest, not as a host in this grand Cathedral that had witnessed in the past so many glorious ceremonies and events in which he was the central figure. At his appearance the air of joy and jubilation is replaced for a few moments by a mixture of sorrow and gratitude. He will feel the emotion but he will succeed to hold back the tears, he has conditioned himself to pass the torch to his successor with pride and dignity, and will lead his former flock in the applause as their new spiritual father and leader enters triumphantly yet solemnly the Archdiocesan Cathedral. Again the eyes and the attention are turned to the man of the hour, they all try to take a glimpse of their new Archbishop.

A breathtaking view; the grandeur of Byzantium, the majesty of Orthodoxy, the glorious past, the present all form a unity to project a promising future. Suddenly the congregation erupts. Axios! Worthy! What a marvelous experience! What a blessing for the Church, for the people, for those who labored before us to prepare for our better future!

The vision of Athenagoras the Patriarch, the dream of our immigrant forefathers but also the prayers of the faithful were heard and their wishes are realized in this one man, Archbishop Spyridon. He is flesh of their flesh and moreover he is the work of Providence. Youthful looking and trim, simple and yet majestic, gently and very comfortable in his new role he acknowledges the applause solemnly with a blessing. He follows the precession down the central isle and stops at the first pew to give a blessing, an embrace and filial kiss to the woman who gave birth and injected love in his heart for God and His Church. How special and how blessed and fortunate is this Mother! Undoubtedly today she is the most blessed woman in this congregation.

Following that stop, that embrace and that kiss the most dramatic moment took place so that will remain unforgettable in the memory of those present and the thousands of television viewers throughout the land. Archbishop Spyridon directs his steps to the seat of Archbishop Iakovos. The protocol of the letter gives way to the protocol of the heart. They embrace and exchange the kiss of love, peace and harmony. How great are the works of the Lord! No one who witnessed it shall ever forget the emotion that this embrace caused. Right there, in that embrace we saw, witnessed, and loved the passing of the torch from one generation to another, from the old to the new from the past and the present to this future, from Iakovos to Spyridon; and it was done with unprecedented grace, so peacefully, so humanly, so lovingly, so movingly.

Watching it, I couldn't help but think how wrong had we been to doubt our strength and our maturing for a peaceful transition. I looked at the congregation and I saw the emotion; I saw young and old, women and men to cry out of joy and shed tears unashamed and feel as if God Himself was a part of that historic embrace. And indeed He was because that embrace of the past with the future, of Iakovos with Spyridon fulfilled his wish; To love one another. And I imagined all the people of our Church to be a part of that embrace for that was the message that these two may wish to pass to us all: To embrace each other, to love each other and to walk together the path of the faith and towards the future.

[ Orthodox Observer - Vol. 61, No. 1119 - October 1996 - p. 19 ]