Archbishop Spyridon Pays First Visit to Chicago Area

Orthodox Observer - February 1997

The Counsul General of Greece in Chi- cago with Mrs. Nicholas Zafiropoulos, exchange greetings with His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon and Bishop Iako- vos of Chicago. (Elias Zimianitis photo)

CHICAGO — Archbishop Spyridon spoke of the need for unity during his first visit to the Chicago Diocese in mid-December.

During his Dec. 13-15 weekend stay, His Eminence attended events and services at the Diocese headquarters, at St. Spyridon's Church in Palos Heights and at Sts. Constantine and Helen Church in Palos Hills.

The Archbishop spoke of his greatest concerns, including education of the laity, interchurch marriages and the liturgical language.

He urged the faithful to better publicize the Church and challenged them to increase their basic theological knowledge. "Better articulation of our faith is the central issue I see before us," he said.

WELCOME TO THE NFL ― Fr. James Gordon presents His Eminence, a former high school halfback, with a Chicago Bears football helmet on behalf of the Diocese Young Adult League members. The helmet bears the inscription "To Archbishop Spyridon, our spiritual head coach."

(Elias Zimianitis photo)

When he addressed a group of young adults, the Archbishop told them, "Your jobs today are in computer technology, AIDS research, medicine, genetic engineering, biological sciences, business and other such areas. Let us look to better articulate our faith as a church so that all the other issues with which we deal can be answered with wisdom."

The Archbishop also discussed his concerns about reclaiming many Greek Orthodox who have left the Church. He said he wants them to return and that the Archdiocese will create a Department of Evangelism and several task forces to "bring back thousands of faithful we have lost on the road."

He also addressed concerns on the language used in the liturgy. "It is important that our priests, that we as a church, do not impose a certain language on our congregations," said the Archbishop.

A LITTLE GIRL presents the Archbishop with a chocolate rose at the airport.

"What is important is to see what the congregation wants. We have certain priests who are trying to impose either their Greek or their English ... but this is not what we should allow to happen."

Chicago's Bishop Iakovos expressed his support of the Archbishop's position in an interview with the Chicago Tribune.

"He appreciates, as all of us should, heritage, language, theology which is Greek Hellenistic," the Bishop said. "At the same time, he realizes that, naturally, there will come an American Orthodox — an English Orthodox Church — without forcing the issue, which would create divisions immediately."

While the Archbishop mainly addressed internal church matters, he also spoke of outward concerns, primarily ecumenical dialogue.

WITH 'HOOP STARS' - Members of the basketball teams at Sts. Constantine and Helen parish following a pep talk from His Eminence.

YOUNG ADULTS gather around His Eminence during their meeting. Also seated are Bishop Iakovos and Fr. Gordon, the Diocese Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries.

"The express will of Christ is that we all be one in him," Archbishop Spyridon told the Tribune. "There can be no Christian against the unity of the Christian Church, and the only way to achieve this is through dialogue ... carried out through truth and love."

[ Orthodox Observer - Vol. 62, No. 1123 - February 1997 - p. 2 ]