Orthodox Observer
@orthodoxobserver.goarch.org
c. 1931 — Official News Outlet of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (@goarch.org) under the leadership of @elpidophoros.goarch.org.
This afternoon, in the venerable Patriarchal Church of St. George at the Phanar, Great Vespers brought together His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in a profound manifestation of the “dialogue of love”
November 29, 2025 at 4:35 PM
This afternoon, in the venerable Patriarchal Church of St. George at the Phanar, Great Vespers brought together His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in a profound manifestation of the “dialogue of love”
Watch highlights from His Eminence’s remarks at the Observer’s conference: “Do the Divine and Digital Intersect?”
November 6, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Watch highlights from His Eminence’s remarks at the Observer’s conference: “Do the Divine and Digital Intersect?”
Fr. Spiro was a featured speaker at the U.S. Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Summit, a gathering of national leaders dedicated to eradicating human trafficking across the country.
Read about the summit here: www.goarch.org/-/fr.-peter-...
📸 FREEDOM Ministry
Read about the summit here: www.goarch.org/-/fr.-peter-...
📸 FREEDOM Ministry
August 22, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Fr. Spiro was a featured speaker at the U.S. Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Summit, a gathering of national leaders dedicated to eradicating human trafficking across the country.
Read about the summit here: www.goarch.org/-/fr.-peter-...
📸 FREEDOM Ministry
Read about the summit here: www.goarch.org/-/fr.-peter-...
📸 FREEDOM Ministry
This past week, His Eminence visited Chios, a Greek island facing intense wildfires. There he spoke to residents, officials, and the firefighters.
Read about the visit here: www.goarch.org/-/archbishop...
📸 OO/Dimitrios Panagos
Read about the visit here: www.goarch.org/-/archbishop...
📸 OO/Dimitrios Panagos
August 20, 2025 at 9:15 PM
This past week, His Eminence visited Chios, a Greek island facing intense wildfires. There he spoke to residents, officials, and the firefighters.
Read about the visit here: www.goarch.org/-/archbishop...
📸 OO/Dimitrios Panagos
Read about the visit here: www.goarch.org/-/archbishop...
📸 OO/Dimitrios Panagos
Often, OVC volunteer work reflects the reality of Christian service. One often marked by practicality and the plain logistics of giving care to those who need it most.
Read about two OVC volunteers’ experiences here: goarch.org/-/ovc-parks-fr…
📸 courtesy Harry Parks/Anastasia Friesen
Read about two OVC volunteers’ experiences here: goarch.org/-/ovc-parks-fr…
📸 courtesy Harry Parks/Anastasia Friesen
August 6, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Often, OVC volunteer work reflects the reality of Christian service. One often marked by practicality and the plain logistics of giving care to those who need it most.
Read about two OVC volunteers’ experiences here: goarch.org/-/ovc-parks-fr…
📸 courtesy Harry Parks/Anastasia Friesen
Read about two OVC volunteers’ experiences here: goarch.org/-/ovc-parks-fr…
📸 courtesy Harry Parks/Anastasia Friesen
The Archdiocese’s Girl Delegate Program gives girls the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in international relations, global policy discussions, and public leadership.
Read here: goarch.org/-/chudley-girl…
📸 Demetra Chudley/Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith
Read here: goarch.org/-/chudley-girl…
📸 Demetra Chudley/Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith
August 6, 2025 at 3:55 PM
The Archdiocese’s Girl Delegate Program gives girls the opportunity to gain firsthand experience in international relations, global policy discussions, and public leadership.
Read here: goarch.org/-/chudley-girl…
📸 Demetra Chudley/Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith
Read here: goarch.org/-/chudley-girl…
📸 Demetra Chudley/Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith
On August 24, parishes across the Archdiocese will celebrate College Student Sunday, a day to offer prayers for our college students and work to ensure that they each have a spiritual home away from home.
Read about it: goarch.org/-/css-25
📸 courtesy of OCF
Read about it: goarch.org/-/css-25
📸 courtesy of OCF
August 6, 2025 at 3:54 PM
On August 24, parishes across the Archdiocese will celebrate College Student Sunday, a day to offer prayers for our college students and work to ensure that they each have a spiritual home away from home.
Read about it: goarch.org/-/css-25
📸 courtesy of OCF
Read about it: goarch.org/-/css-25
📸 courtesy of OCF
The OCPM urges Orthodox Christians not to see incarceration as a distant, abstract policy concern, but as a pastoral and spiritual reality already present in our parishes.
Read the full article here: www.goarch.org/-/-you-are-n...
📸courtesy of the OCPM
Read the full article here: www.goarch.org/-/-you-are-n...
📸courtesy of the OCPM
July 31, 2025 at 7:53 PM
The OCPM urges Orthodox Christians not to see incarceration as a distant, abstract policy concern, but as a pastoral and spiritual reality already present in our parishes.
Read the full article here: www.goarch.org/-/-you-are-n...
📸courtesy of the OCPM
Read the full article here: www.goarch.org/-/-you-are-n...
📸courtesy of the OCPM
From Camp Saint Paul to the streets of Hamilton Heights, New York, this week’s generosity and stewardship extended far beyond campgrounds.
Read about the week at the camp here: www.goarch.org/-/camp-saint...
📸 courtesy of Fr. Elias Villis
Read about the week at the camp here: www.goarch.org/-/camp-saint...
📸 courtesy of Fr. Elias Villis
July 31, 2025 at 2:33 AM
From Camp Saint Paul to the streets of Hamilton Heights, New York, this week’s generosity and stewardship extended far beyond campgrounds.
Read about the week at the camp here: www.goarch.org/-/camp-saint...
📸 courtesy of Fr. Elias Villis
Read about the week at the camp here: www.goarch.org/-/camp-saint...
📸 courtesy of Fr. Elias Villis
We’ve highlighted the events that will be open to the public during Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s U.S. visit in September.
Refer to them here: www.goarch.org/-/ep-public-...
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Refer to them here: www.goarch.org/-/ep-public-...
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
July 30, 2025 at 7:51 PM
We’ve highlighted the events that will be open to the public during Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s U.S. visit in September.
Refer to them here: www.goarch.org/-/ep-public-...
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Refer to them here: www.goarch.org/-/ep-public-...
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Now that the IOCC’s repairs are completed, 212 students and staff in Uganda are back to school.
Read the full article, including an update on the IOCC’s other projects in the region here: goarch.org/-/after-iocc-r…
📸 courtesy of International Orthodox Christian Charities
Read the full article, including an update on the IOCC’s other projects in the region here: goarch.org/-/after-iocc-r…
📸 courtesy of International Orthodox Christian Charities
July 29, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Now that the IOCC’s repairs are completed, 212 students and staff in Uganda are back to school.
Read the full article, including an update on the IOCC’s other projects in the region here: goarch.org/-/after-iocc-r…
📸 courtesy of International Orthodox Christian Charities
Read the full article, including an update on the IOCC’s other projects in the region here: goarch.org/-/after-iocc-r…
📸 courtesy of International Orthodox Christian Charities
On July 8, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met over 80 children from Ukraine. His All-Holiness addressed them with compassionate words.
Read the @OrderStAndrew’s statement about the moment here: goarch.org/-/ecumenical-p…
📸 courtesy of Archons
Read the @OrderStAndrew’s statement about the moment here: goarch.org/-/ecumenical-p…
📸 courtesy of Archons
July 25, 2025 at 6:42 PM
On July 8, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew met over 80 children from Ukraine. His All-Holiness addressed them with compassionate words.
Read the @OrderStAndrew’s statement about the moment here: goarch.org/-/ecumenical-p…
📸 courtesy of Archons
Read the @OrderStAndrew’s statement about the moment here: goarch.org/-/ecumenical-p…
📸 courtesy of Archons
“The day and memory are bitter.” His Eminence @elpidophoros.goarch.org issued an encyclical on the Day of Remembrance of the Hagia Sophia.
Read the full message here: www.goarch.org/-/hagia-soph...
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Read the full message here: www.goarch.org/-/hagia-soph...
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
July 25, 2025 at 4:14 PM
“The day and memory are bitter.” His Eminence @elpidophoros.goarch.org issued an encyclical on the Day of Remembrance of the Hagia Sophia.
Read the full message here: www.goarch.org/-/hagia-soph...
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Read the full message here: www.goarch.org/-/hagia-soph...
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Archbishop Elpidophoros met with a delegation from the Greek Orthodox Community of Antioch who expressed profound gratitude for the GOA’s support of earthquake survivors in Turkey.
Read about the meeting here: goarch.org/-/antiochian-d…
Read about the meeting here: goarch.org/-/antiochian-d…
July 24, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Archbishop Elpidophoros met with a delegation from the Greek Orthodox Community of Antioch who expressed profound gratitude for the GOA’s support of earthquake survivors in Turkey.
Read about the meeting here: goarch.org/-/antiochian-d…
Read about the meeting here: goarch.org/-/antiochian-d…
The pilgrims spent the day in the ancient city of Nicaea. Follow them as they walk in the footsteps of the First Ecumenical Council’s attendees, including Emperor Constantine the Great:
www.goarch.org/-/pilgrims-r...
📸 OO/Brittainy Newman
www.goarch.org/-/pilgrims-r...
📸 OO/Brittainy Newman
July 22, 2025 at 6:12 PM
The pilgrims spent the day in the ancient city of Nicaea. Follow them as they walk in the footsteps of the First Ecumenical Council’s attendees, including Emperor Constantine the Great:
www.goarch.org/-/pilgrims-r...
📸 OO/Brittainy Newman
www.goarch.org/-/pilgrims-r...
📸 OO/Brittainy Newman
Today’s emotional pinnacle for the New Rome pilgrims was a visit to the Hagia Sophia—once the Great Church of Christendom, now transformed into a mosque.
Read about the history and the pilgrims’ experience here: goarch.org/-/hagia-sophia…
📸 OO/Brittainy Newman
Read about the history and the pilgrims’ experience here: goarch.org/-/hagia-sophia…
📸 OO/Brittainy Newman
July 21, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Today’s emotional pinnacle for the New Rome pilgrims was a visit to the Hagia Sophia—once the Great Church of Christendom, now transformed into a mosque.
Read about the history and the pilgrims’ experience here: goarch.org/-/hagia-sophia…
📸 OO/Brittainy Newman
Read about the history and the pilgrims’ experience here: goarch.org/-/hagia-sophia…
📸 OO/Brittainy Newman
Yesterday, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over from the Patriarchal throne, which His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew noted as a particular joy.
Read about the pilgrims’ first day in Istanbul here: www.goarch.org/-/he-patriar...
📸: OO/Brittainy Newman
Read about the pilgrims’ first day in Istanbul here: www.goarch.org/-/he-patriar...
📸: OO/Brittainy Newman
July 21, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Yesterday, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over from the Patriarchal throne, which His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew noted as a particular joy.
Read about the pilgrims’ first day in Istanbul here: www.goarch.org/-/he-patriar...
📸: OO/Brittainy Newman
Read about the pilgrims’ first day in Istanbul here: www.goarch.org/-/he-patriar...
📸: OO/Brittainy Newman
Before departing the city, the pilgrims in Rome made one last stop at the only Greek Orthodox Church in Rome.
Read about the moment here: goarch.org/-/pilgrims-vis…
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Read about the moment here: goarch.org/-/pilgrims-vis…
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
July 20, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Before departing the city, the pilgrims in Rome made one last stop at the only Greek Orthodox Church in Rome.
Read about the moment here: goarch.org/-/pilgrims-vis…
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Read about the moment here: goarch.org/-/pilgrims-vis…
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
The Leadership 100 Fund, whose mission is to advance Orthodoxy and Hellenism in the U.S., has appointed Penny Panayiota Deligiannis as their new executive director, effective February 2026.
Read the full release here: goarch.org/-/leadership-1…
📸 courtesy of Deligiannis
Read the full release here: goarch.org/-/leadership-1…
📸 courtesy of Deligiannis
July 19, 2025 at 3:27 PM
The Leadership 100 Fund, whose mission is to advance Orthodoxy and Hellenism in the U.S., has appointed Penny Panayiota Deligiannis as their new executive director, effective February 2026.
Read the full release here: goarch.org/-/leadership-1…
📸 courtesy of Deligiannis
Read the full release here: goarch.org/-/leadership-1…
📸 courtesy of Deligiannis
The “From Rome to New Rome” pilgrimage began their last full day in the Eternal City at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
Read about the end of the pilgrimage to here: goarch.org/-/faithful-par…
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Read about the end of the pilgrimage to here: goarch.org/-/faithful-par…
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
July 19, 2025 at 3:58 AM
The “From Rome to New Rome” pilgrimage began their last full day in the Eternal City at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
Read about the end of the pilgrimage to here: goarch.org/-/faithful-par…
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Read about the end of the pilgrimage to here: goarch.org/-/faithful-par…
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Following a private morning audience with Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo, the “From Rome to New Rome” pilgrims continued their journey at the monastery of Grottaferrata.
Read about it here: goarch.org/-/following-a-…
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Read about it here: goarch.org/-/following-a-…
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
July 18, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Following a private morning audience with Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo, the “From Rome to New Rome” pilgrims continued their journey at the monastery of Grottaferrata.
Read about it here: goarch.org/-/following-a-…
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Read about it here: goarch.org/-/following-a-…
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Archbishop Elpidophoros, Cardinal Tobin, and fifty pilgrims shared a private audience this morning with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo.
Full article here: goarch.org/-/papal-audi...
Photos by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Full article here: goarch.org/-/papal-audi...
Photos by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
July 17, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Archbishop Elpidophoros, Cardinal Tobin, and fifty pilgrims shared a private audience this morning with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo.
Full article here: goarch.org/-/papal-audi...
Photos by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Full article here: goarch.org/-/papal-audi...
Photos by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
The joint pilgrimage “From Rome to New Rome” spent its first full day in the Eternal City, visiting the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, the catacombs of San Sebastián, and St. Peter’s Basilica.
Read the full article here: goarch.org/-/faithful-par…
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Read the full article here: goarch.org/-/faithful-par…
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
July 17, 2025 at 1:47 AM
The joint pilgrimage “From Rome to New Rome” spent its first full day in the Eternal City, visiting the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, the catacombs of San Sebastián, and St. Peter’s Basilica.
Read the full article here: goarch.org/-/faithful-par…
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Read the full article here: goarch.org/-/faithful-par…
📸 by OO/Brittainy Newman
Following the CrossRoad Institute's two sessions in Boston to begin the summer, the program’s New York session came to an end on July 15, 2025.
Read about their time here: goarch.org/-/crossroad-in…
📸 courtesy of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops
Read about their time here: goarch.org/-/crossroad-in…
📸 courtesy of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops
July 16, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Following the CrossRoad Institute's two sessions in Boston to begin the summer, the program’s New York session came to an end on July 15, 2025.
Read about their time here: goarch.org/-/crossroad-in…
📸 courtesy of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops
Read about their time here: goarch.org/-/crossroad-in…
📸 courtesy of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops
Today, a group of fifty Greek Orthodox, Byzantine Catholics, and Roman Catholics arrived in Rome, where they begin a joint pilgrimage entitled “Rome to New Rome.”
Read about the first day of the pilgrimage here: goarch.org/-/arrival-in-r…
📸 by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Read about the first day of the pilgrimage here: goarch.org/-/arrival-in-r…
📸 by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
July 15, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Today, a group of fifty Greek Orthodox, Byzantine Catholics, and Roman Catholics arrived in Rome, where they begin a joint pilgrimage entitled “Rome to New Rome.”
Read about the first day of the pilgrimage here: goarch.org/-/arrival-in-r…
📸 by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman
Read about the first day of the pilgrimage here: goarch.org/-/arrival-in-r…
📸 by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman