Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece visits Boston

Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece on Thursday arrived in Boston on his first visit to the United States, following an invitation from Archbishop Demetrios of America

Archbishop Ieronymos will be proclaimed an honorary professor of the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston during the graduation ceremony on Saturday.

The Archbishop visited the Boston Art Museum on Thursday and the scene of the bloody bomb attack near the finishing line of the Boston marathon race last month. Later in the evening, he will attend a formal dinner given in his honor by Metropolitan Bishop Methodios.

On Saturday afternoon, accompanied by Archbishop Demetrios, he will visit New York for a series of meetings with US officials and members of the Greek-American community. He will also visit Greek Orthodox churches, schools and institutions.

His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece arrived on Wednesday, shortly before 8 p.m. at Logan International Airport, beginning a visit to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America on the occasion of the conferral upon him of an Honorary Doctorate Degree by Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. The ceremony will take place during the School’s 2013 Commencement, Saturday May 18.

Archbishop Demetrios of America and Metropolitan Methodios of Boston were the first to welcome His Beatitude as he first stepped off the plane. They proceeded to a private airport room for a more formal welcome. Archbishop Ieronymos greeted everyone saying Christos Anesti, Christ is Risen! as he entered the room and was presented with flowers by three young girls from area parishes.

“It is a first welcome of love, honor and love for you, Your Beatitude,” said Archbishop Demetrios as he presented the visiting hierarch to those who had filled the room.

Archbishop Ieronymos in his reply to the warm welcome, said: “I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart by proclaiming again to you Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen! I would like to assure you that as we arrive today we are filled with joy and gratification and we firmly believe that when we leave our hearts will be even more content and replete with joy. Christ is Risen!”

Archbishop Demetrios presented the members of His Beatitude’s entourage which consists of His Eminence Metropolitan of Messinia Chrysostomos, His Grace Bishop Gavriel of Diavleia, Rev. Protopresbyter Adamantios Avgoustidis, Rev. Protopresbyter Stefanos Avramidis, Rev. Deacon Epiphanios Arvanitis and Mr. Demetrios Karanasos.

Among those present at the welcome were the Consul General of Greece in Boston Ifigeneia Kanaras; Rev. Fr. Nicholas Triantafillou, President of Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology; Dr. Thomas Lelon, Vice-Chair of the School’s Board of Trustees; Rev. Dr. Thomas FitzGerald, Dean of Holy Cross; Rev. Fr. Theodore Barbas, Chancellor of the Metropolis of Boston; many members of the clergy and laity of the area, and students from Holy Cross, who also chanted the feme of the visiting Hierarch.

On Thursday, May 16, 2013, Archbishop Ieronymos visited the Museum of Fine Arts of Boston and the location of the Boston Marathon terrorist attack, which took place a month ago. In the evening, Metropolitan Methodios hosted a dinner in honor of the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece.

On Saturday May 18 and following the Divine Liturgy, the formal 71st Commencement of Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology will take place, during which, an Honorary Doctorate of Theology will be conferred upon His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece. That evening Archbishop Ieronymos accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America will travel to New York.

On Sunday morning, May 19, an Archieratical concelebration of the Divine Liturgy will take place at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York. Later in the evening, a special concert by the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir and the Archdiocesan Youth Choir will be offered to honor Archbishop Ieronymos.

On Monday, May 20, Archbishop Ieronymos will visit the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Greek American School of St. Demetrios in Astoria, NY.

On Tuesday, May 21, Feast day of Sts. Constantine and Helen, His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece and His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America will concelebrate the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Sts. Constantine and Helen in Brooklyn, NY, which celebrates its 100th anniversary.

 Source: ANA-MPA , greeknewsonline.com