Archdiocese of America Eparchial Synod to meet on March 14-17 in Florida

The Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of America is scheduled to convene from March 14 to 17 in the city of Boca Raton, FL. The sessions will be held at the Church of Saint Mark and its adjoining facilities. The National Herald has learned that one of the main topics expected to be addressed by the Synod is the elevation to the episcopacy of two Archimandrites, specifically Fr. Nektarios Papazafiroploulos, the chancellor of the Archdiocese of America, and Fr. Anthony Vrame, Director of Holy Cross Orthodox Press. Fr. Nektarios Papazafiroploulos is being promoted behind the scenes by Archimandrite Fr. Vasileios Drossos, the former senior advisor and confidant of Archbishop Elpidophoros, who recently returned to Greece. Indeed, the two men have a strong friendship and closeness with Archimandrite Nektarios himself, as well as with his brother, Fr. Panagiotis Papazafiroploulos, who is also an employee of the Archdiocese. Archimandrite Nektarios Papazafiroploulos, in his capacity as chancellor of the Archdiocese, has contributed in various ways to the documentation required for Fr. Drossos to obtain permanent residency in the United States, as well as other clerical and lay employees brought by Archbishop Elpidophoros from Athens and Turkey.

It is worth noting that before his appointment as chancellor of the Archdiocese by Archbishop Elpidophoros, Archimandrite Nektarios Papazafiroploulos was the presiding priest of the community of the Cathedral of Saint Demetrios in Astoria, where, among other things, he contributed to the situation that led to the then-Parish Council to reject a donation from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation worth $25 million.

Archimandrite Vrame is supported by Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco due to their long-standing friendship and closeness. He served for many years as the director of the Department of Religious Education of the Archdiocese with offices in the main building of the School of Theology. He was replaced two years ago by Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos and was appointed as Director of Holy Cross Orthodox Press where he continues to serve to this day.

It has not been disclosed what duties the new Bishops, if elected, will undertake, as there are objections particularly, regarding Fr. Papazafiroploulos.

The possibility of changes to the Archdiocesan Charter being discussed has not been ruled out, despite Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s order that the matter is closed for the time being. If such discussion occurs, however, it will not be about the radical changes the Archbishop earlier attempted unsuccessfully, which led to ruptures and divisions among the clergy and laity of the Metropolises, but for some alterations to the geographic boundaries and the distribution of communities in specific Metropolises.

It is expected that all synodic Metropolitans will attend, except for two, Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver and Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit. Metropolitan Isaiah has been residing for several months now in the Monastery of the Archangels in Kendalia, Texas, and not in his Metropolis, and reportedly refuses to retire. The National Herald conveyed to Metropolitan Isaiah through Monk Ephraim, who has custody and looks after him, our desire to communicate with him, but Metropolitan Isaiah did not respond. The Metropolis of Denver is essentially administered and looked after by Bishop Constantine of Sassima. Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit will not attend in person due to his health issues.

The Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of America is composed of the following hierarchs: Methodios of Boston, Alexios of Atlanta, Isaiah of Denver, Nicholas of Detroit, Gerasimos of San Francisco, Savas of Pittsburgh, Nathanael of Chicago, and Apostolos of New Jersey. The chief secretary is Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos.

It is noted that to date Archbishop Elpidophoros has elevated the following six auxiliary Bishops: Athenagoras of Nazianzus, Spyridon of Amasris, Joachim of Amisos, Timothy of Hexamilion, Ioannis of Phocaea, and Constantine of Sassima.

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