Having beheld
the resurrection of Christ, let us worship the holy Lord Jesus, the
only Sinless One. We venerate your cross, O Christ, and we praise
and glorify your holy resurrection. You are our God. We know no
other than you, and we call upon your name. Come, all you faithful,
let us venerate the holy resurrection of Christ. For behold,
through the cross joy has come to all the world. Ever praising the
Lord, let us praise his resurrection. For enduring the cross for
us, He has destroyed death by death.
His
Eminence, Metropolitan EVANGELOS of New Jersey, the Spiritual
Leader of the Greek Orthodox Faithful in the Mid-Atlantic
States, has joyously announced the recent acquisition of an
Office Building in Westfield, NJ, that will serve as the new
permanent Ecclesiastical Headquarters for the Greek Orthodox
Metropolis of New Jersey. Under the spiritual jurisdiction of
the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Venerable
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Holy Metropolis
of New Jersey serves the Greek Orthodox Parish/Communities of
New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the Greater
Philadelphia Region, with the Ecclesiastical See being in the
state of New Jersey. The Greek Orthodox Diocese of New Jersey
was established in 1977 After 30 years since its establishment,
the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey has acquired its own
Metropolis Headquarters. The first Bishop and later Titular
Metropolitan of New Jersey was His Excellency, Metropolitan
Silas of blessed memory, succeeded by Bishop George, also of
blessed memory. By decision of the venerable and Ecumenical
Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Greek Orthodox Diocese of
New Jersey was elevated from a Diocese to a Metropolis in 2003,
and with the election, consecration and enthronement of our
spiritual leader, His Eminence, Metropolitan Evangelos is the
first Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New
Jersey.
The new Spiritual and
Administrative Headquarters of the
Greek Orthodox
Metropolis of New Jersey
(September 26, 2007)
Feast of St. John the Theologian
Expressing his overwhelming joy concerning the acquisition of
the new Metropolis Headquarters, His Eminence, Metropolitan
Evangelos of New Jersey said, “I am very happy and
enthusiastic for the discovery and purchase of this most
appropriate building and I glorify the Name of the Most High God
because He has heard the prayers of our pious Orthodox Faithful
and our Reverend Clergy, as well as my daily unceasing prayers
and as such revealed to us the site which shall become the
Center of our Metropolis. From this, we shall continue to serve
Him and the faithful Orthodox Christians of our
Parish/Communities entrusted to my spiritual care.”
Furthermore, Metropolitan Evangelos noted that, “the new
offices are a cause for jubilation, and relief since the
Metropolis had been initially housed in the Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese headquarter in New York City, and since 1999 in
rented venues with the most recent being in the PanGregorian
Enterprises building, whose members embraced the Holy
Metropolis of New Jersey and its mission with much respect, love
and piety for the last 4 years since my election as
Metropolitan.”
Describing the building, His Eminence added, “it is a
building with 3 floors, 9,600 square feet. The main floor will
house the Metropolis Chapel dedicated in honor of the Patron of
our Metropolis, St. John Chrysostom, the Office of the
Metropolitan, the Metropolis Library and Reception room where
gatherings seminars and other events shall take place. The
administrative offices will be located on the second floor, and
the lower level will serve as the larger lecture, conference and
hospitality area. His Eminence further explained that “the
building was purchased for the amount of $1,550,000. An
initial down payment of $900,000 was made and a $1,000,000 loan
was secured from the Town Bank of Westfield. The building will
undergo some renovations in order to acquire the necessary
ecclesiastical rendering and form.”
It is
His Eminence’s prayer and hope that the new Headquarters will
become a source of pride and boast for our Clergy and Laity of
our Metropolis, to whom in reality it belongs. Our Holy
Metropolis is Christo-centric, and as such, the Holy Chapel will
be a center of Divine Worship, the focal point of our
ecclesiastical, worship, administrative educational and cultural
activities which will be for the spiritual edification of our
people.
Anyone
and everyone interested in becoming a part of the realization of
this beautiful dream may offer their support to their Holy
Metropolis of New Jersey by offering a contribution to the
Building Fund and payable to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of
New Jersey. Donations may be offered for the health of, or in
memory of a loved one. Needless to say, the prayers of all are
most appreciated as we look forward to an even brighter future
in our new Metropolis–a home established and which belongs to
all.
