WESTFIELD, NJ –
The Metropolis of New Jersey held the annual fall Clergy Synaxis at the St. Sophia, Sts. Faith, Hope and Agape Greek Orthodox Church in Jeffersonville, Pennsylvania on October 15.
The Synaxis began with His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey offering the invocation and warmly welcoming all of the clergy who traveled from throughout the sacred Metropolis. The President of the Clergy Syndesmos, the Rev. Protopresbyter Anastasios Kousoulas, offered his greetings and presented His Eminence with a gift from the Syndesmos of a set of embroidered epimanika of the Last Supper, offered on the occasion of His Eminence’s 1 year anniversary of his enthronement as Metropolitan of New Jersey.
In his Archpastoral address, His Eminence began by conveying the paternal blessings of His All- Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. His Eminence then expressed his appreciation to the clergy for their hard work as well as offered them beautiful words of encouragement and direction to continue to grow their ministry and their service to the faithful entrusted to their spiritual care.
The day continued with reports from the Chancellor, the APC/ABC representatives and the various ministries of the Metropolis including Youth & Young Adult Ministries, the Music and Dance Festival (MDF), and the communications/upcoming events. Also offering presentations were Archon John Vasiliou, speaking about the 2025 Greek Independence Day Parade in Philadelphia and Aris Bouloubasis, the IT chairman of the Metropolis, who offered a virtual report on social media and Cyber Security.
His Eminence concluded the Synaxis by expressing his gratitude to the St. Sophia community for the wonderful job hosting, as well as offered his blessings to the clergy for a safe return to their parishes and asked them to express his paternal blessings to all the faithful of our sacred Metropolis.
