With the blessing and at the initiative of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America on Wednesday, June 10, 2026 presented a unique concert, “Sounds of Constantinople,” at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Resurrection in Brookville, New York. The concert was held in honor of the Name Day of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, as well as in support of the missionary efforts of the Holy Metropolis of New Zealand. His Eminence Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand was present at the event.
The Rev. Protopresbyter Panteleimon Papadopoulos of Holy Resurrection Church in Brookville offered welcoming remarks, after which His Eminence Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand gave the keynote presentation.
The concert featured the Romanos the Melodist Chanters Society of Greater New York, under the direction of Dr. Demetrios Kehagias. The program provided listeners with a stirring introduction to Constantinople’s unparalleled ecclesiastical and cultural heritage through an overview of its sacred and traditional hymnology.
Following the musical presentation, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros delivered an Archepiscopal address, stating: “The leadership of His All-Holiness is unparalleled in encouraging the expansion of the mission of bringing the Gospel to all the peoples of the world. Therefore, on this occasion when we remember the Apostle Bartholomew, whose name our Patriarch assumed early in his ecclesiastical life, we sound the praises of both Apostles – the Holy Disciple martyred for the love of our Lord, and the Apostle of Peace who has led the martyric Church of Constantinople in the longest Patriarchal tenure in history. And the sounds that we have experienced tonight, the ‘Sounds of Constantinople’ – the hymns and spiritual odes that have filled this Church of the Resurrection – convey the essence of the Queen of Cities by means of melodious rhythms and magnificent poetry.”
Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, subsequently offered reflections on the unique role of the Ecumenical Patriarch within the Church, and the transformative thirty-five-year diakonia of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
In his remarks, Dr. Limberakis explicated the Orthodox understanding of primus inter pares — “first among equals,” vis a vis the term first without equal, coined by Archbishop Elpidophoros a few years ago. He observed that “at first hearing, some may wonder whether these two expressions contradict one another. In truth, they reveal the delicate and profound balance at the heart of Orthodox ecclesiology.” Dr. Limberakis explained that “every Orthodox bishop — whether the Ecumenical Patriarch himself or the most junior bishop newly ordained — possesses the fullness of the apostolic ministry. Every bishop celebrates the same Divine Liturgy, proclaims the same Gospel, and safeguards the same apostolic faith. No bishop possesses a greater sacramental grace than another. In this sacred sense, the Ecumenical Patriarch is indeed first among equals — first within a brotherhood of bishops who are equal in apostolic dignity and sacramental life.”
Dr. Limberakis stated in his remarks, “When Archbishop Elpidophoros spoke of the Patriarch as ‘First without Equal,’ he referred not to superiority of personhood or sacramental grace, but to the uniqueness of the ministry entrusted to the Ecumenical Throne. There is only one Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch. Only one occupies the Throne historically endowed by the Ecumenical Councils with particular prerogatives and responsibilities for the life of world Orthodoxy.”
One manifestation of that sacrificial service, Dr. Limberakis noted, involves unique responsibilities for the entire Church. “Among those responsibilities,” he said, “is the granting of autocephaly — as witnessed in the recognition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. Whatever opinions may surround that historic act, no other hierarch in Orthodoxy possessed the canonical authority or historical responsibility to issue the Tomos of Autocephaly in that manner. That responsibility belonged uniquely to the Ecumenical Patriarch.”
Dr. Limberakis then explained the unique understanding of authority within the Orthodox Church: “And yet, in the beautiful paradox of Orthodoxy, the same Patriarch who bears these unique responsibilities remains equal in episcopal grace to the youngest bishop ordained yesterday. This is the genius of the Orthodox Church: primacy without domination, authority without triumphalism, and leadership inseparable from humility and service.”
Read Dr. Limberakis’ full remarks here.
The concert was also devoted to the support of the sacred missionary work of the Holy Metropolis of New Zealand under the pastoral leadership of His Eminence Metropolitan Myron, who also blessed this event with his presence. At the event, Dr. Limberakis presented His Eminence Metropolitan Myron with a $10,000 donation in support of the Metropolis of New Zealand.
In a letter accompanying the donation, Dr. Limberakis wrote: “Your Eminence, as you continue to serve the Orthodox faithful in New Zealand, the Metropolis of Zealand becomes an ever-brighter manifestation of the eternal light of the Gospel. The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate are grateful to our loving God for the opportunity to aid in your outstanding work in attending to both the spiritual and physical needs of your rapidly growing Metropolis.”
After Dr. Limberakis’ remarks, Mrs. Anita Kartelopoulos, Esq., National Vice President of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, also made a presentation, as did the Rev. Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Panagiotis Papazafiropoulos, Executive Director of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Fund, and Ms. Paulette Poulos, Senior Advisor of Leadership 100.
The evening concluded with the Polychronion in honor of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, led by the choir.
