Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Visits Halki

As part of his recent visit to Turkey Patriarch Irinej (Gavrilovic) of the Serbian Orthodox Church paid a visit to the campus of the Halki Theological Seminary near Constantinople accompanied by Patriarch Bartholomew (Arhondonis) of Constantinople and the closed seminary's rector, Metropolitan Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis) of Brusa. More here.

Brusa Metropolitan Elected Abbot of Halki Monastery

At today's meeting of the Holy Synod of the Constantinopolitan Orthodox Church Metropolitan Elpidophoros of Brusa was elected abbot of the Monastery of the Trinity on Halki. The decision was taken in the hope that the Halki Monastery will soon be able to reopen its theological seminary as the Turkish government has begun significantly easing the restrictions previously placed on Turkey's religious organizations. More (in Greek) here.

Metropolitan Elpidophoros Visits New England

Metropolitan Elpidophoros of Brusa, one of the many hierarchs of the Constantinopolitan Orthodox Church in Turkey without a living diocese, has made a pastoral visit to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston, touring one of the Metropolis' summer camps with Metropolitan Methodios (Tournas) of Boston and ordaining a clergy at Brookline's Holy Cross Seminary. More (in Greek) here.

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Receives Delegation from Constantinople

Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev) of Moscow yesterday received a delegation from the Constantinopolitan Orthodox Church led by Metropolitan Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis) of Brusa. The delegation was sent to Russia on the occasion of Patriarch Kirill's nameday and the opening of the 'Days of Slavic Writing and Culture' in Moscow and discussed relations between the two sister Orthodox Churches. More here.

Speech of Metropolitan Elpidophoros at His Consecration

In his homily following his consecration to the episcopacy Metropolitan Elpidophoros () of Brusa laxed eloquent in his praise of Patriarch Bartholomew (Arhondonis) of Constantinople, even noting his "[love] of liturgy and of monasticism." This may strike members in the Church of Constantinople as somewhat ironic given the ongoing tensions between Patriarch Bartholomew and Mount Athos, tensions that very nearly prompted Elder Ephraim (Philotheotis) to establish his North American monasteries under the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad rather than the Ecumenical Patriarchate's dioceses on the continent.

Fortunately, Metropolitan Elpidophoros went on to matters more at the core of Patriarch Bartholomew's patriarchate, noting that, "Above and beyond all [in the Patriarch's labors] lies the good of the Phanar, the projection of the ecumenicity of the Throne." In thanking the various delegations of the Local Orthodox Churches, governments, and monasteries assembled for their presence the good metropolitan also overlooked the presence of representatives of the American Orthodox Church (OCA).

A full text of the new metropolitan's speech can be found here.

Consecration of New Metropolitan of Brusa

The consecration of Metropolitan Elpidophorus (Lambriniadis) of Brusa, a man best known for his controversial remarks regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate and American Orthodoxy during a recent visit to the United States, took place this past Sunday. In addition to Patriarch Bartholomew (Arhondonis) of Constantinople, Archbishop Jerome II (Liapis) of Athens of the Greek Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk, and other hierarchs and clergy of the Local Orthodox Churches took part in the consecration. Clergy of the OCA from St. Vladimir's Seminary in Crestwood, New York, were among those in attendance. More here.

Georgians to be Present at Constantinople Consecration

The Georgian Orthodox Church will be represented at tomorrow's consecration in Constantinople of Archimandrite Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis) to the episcopacy by its metropolitan for Western Europe, who hopes to strengthen the ties between the Georgian and Constantinopolitan Orthodox Churches. More here.

Frs. Elpidophorus and Stephen Elected Metropolitans

Archimandrite Elpidophoros (Lamvriniadis), most memorable for his past attacks on the American Orthodox Church (OCA), has been elected Metropolitan of Brusa by the Holy Synod of the Constantinopolitan Orthodox Church. The protosingelus of the Ecumenical Patriarchate was also elected Metropolitan of Callioupolis and Madytus at the same session of the Holy Synod.

Metropolitan-elect Stephen of Callioupolis will be consecrated this coming Sunday. Metropolitan-elect Elpidophoros is to be consecrated on the Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas. More here.