On Friday, December 1, 2023, during a virtual National Council meeting of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Executive Committee and National Council surprised His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, with a birthday cake. The cake, inscribed “Happy Birthday to Our Beloved Archbishop,” was presented to His Eminence as he was participating in the meeting from the Archdiocesan offices in New York City.
His Eminence celebrated his fifty-sixth birthday on Tuesday, November 28. Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, remarked: “It was our great pleasure and honor to commemorate His Eminence’s birthday during our National Council meeting. We remain enduringly grateful for His Eminence’s tireless labors on behalf of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. As His Eminence himself has said, ‘the fruit of love is never exhausted. It passes through a community and refreshes every person it touches in the heart.’ He exemplifies this principle in his daily ministry. On the occasion of his birthday, we recall with gratitude how much he has enriched and refreshed the Archons, the Archdiocese, and the entirety of God’s Holy Church.”
The Archons’ virtual National Council meeting covered an extensive range of issues, and lasted from 9AM until 1:45PM. 77 key Archons were invited to participate in the Zoom call.