ΙΕΡΑ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΗ

ΑΜΕΡΙΚΗΣ

MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release                                  Contact:  V. Rev. Archimandrite George Nikas,

September 20, 2006                                                      Chief Secretary of the Metropolis of NJ

Kenilworth, NJ                                                                                                  Tel.:  908-686-0003

GREEK ORTHODOX METROPOLIS OF NEW JERSEY

2006 HOLY CROSS CELEBRATION

ATTRACTS OVER 2000 ORTHODOX FAITHFUL

The 2006 Holy Cross Celebration of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey was held at the Paramount Theater in Asbury Park, New Jersey, with resounding success on Sunday, September 17, 2006, attracting over 2000 Greek Orthodox Faithful from throughout the State of New Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia area. His Eminence, Metropolitan EVANGELOS of New Jersey presided over the festivities that included the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, the Elevation of the Holy Cross, the Blessing of the Waters and the subsequent Diving for the Cross by 70 Orthodox youngsters.

Assisting His Eminence at the Divine Liturgy were over 30 Clergy from throughout the State of New Jersey and greater Philadelphia. The V. Rev. Archimandrite Nektarios Kotrotsios and the Rev. Economos Andrew Eugenis served as Ecclisiarchs. The capacity-only Paramount Theater resonated with the sounds of Byzantine Music by the Byzantine Choir of the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey, this year directed by Mr. Apostolos Combitsis, Protopsaltis of St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Philadelpia. Mr. George Zavelas, Choir Director of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Asbury Park, NJ, directed the Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians Choir that also melodiously chanted the responses during the Divine Liturgy.

Present at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and the day’s Celebration were the Honorable United States Senator from New Jersey, Senator Robert Menendez, and the Honorable Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, Mr. Ioannis Valinakis, who was accompanied by the Consul General of Greece in New York, the Honorable Mrs. Ekaterina Boura. Metropolitan Evangelos warmly welcomed the three distinguished guests and presented them with an icon of the Holy Cross, expressing his gratitude for their efforts in assisting our venerable Ecumenical Patriarchate, which continues to suffer in an ever-restricting environment its ecclesiastical mission. Following the presentations, His Eminence addressed the Faithful concerning the Cross of Christ, emphasizing that Justice and Peace are but two of the virtues that the Tree of Life represents in our fleeting world. Furthermore, His Eminence exhorted our young people to always wear their Cross with pride and confidence in the infinite compassion and protection of God.

Under a beautiful blue sky reminiscent of Greece, His Eminence, Metropolitan Evangelos then conducted a Memorial Service for the late Patriarch Athenagoras and placed a beautiful wreath over a statue erected by the City of Asbury Park in his honor on the Boardwalk. The Holy Cross Celebration and Blessing of the Waters in Asbury Park was instituted by the then Archbishop of North and South America and later Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras in 1947, with the prayer that the world’s oceans, which connect all peoples of the Earth, could also become vessels that transmit the hope and triumph of Christ’s Cross. The Cross, a Christian symbol of love, peace, hope and victory over death, is also thrown into the waters to symbolically appease the fury of the seas so that travelers will reach their destination safely.

Following the Agiasmos Service (Exaltation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross) that was held by the waterfront, His Eminence threw the Cross four times into the ocean, each time being retrieved by members of the Greek Orthodox Youth Association, with the retriever of the Cross being especially blessed throughout the forthcoming year. Efthimia Gallatsatos of St. Demetrios in Upper Darby, PA, Constantine Demopoulos of St. Andrew in Randolph, NJ, Elena Obelenus of St. Anthony in Vineland, NJ, and Christopher Isaac of the G. O. Parish of Hunterdon County in Flemington, NJ, were the divers that retrieved the Cross this year.

The day’s festivities concluded with a family barbeque that included delicious Greek food and Greek music. It is expected that next year’s celebration will exceed this year’s attendance as the celebration continues to grow and become reminiscent of latter years. The Holy Cross Celebration in Asbury Park, NJ, held annually on the first Sunday following the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, is considered to be one of the watershed and joyous events of the New Ecclesiastical Year for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey, and as such, draws Orthodox Faithful from throughout the Metropolitan area who join together in prayer as the one Body of Christ.

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