With the blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, the Cultural Committee of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Westfield, New Jersey is hosting a Symposium, The Ecumenical Patriarchate: The Mother Church from Glory to Captivity. The Symposium, which will feature a panel of distinguished speakers, will be held on Friday, June 2 at 7:00 PM ET. Parishioners, friends of the parish, and young adults are cordially invited to attend.
Featured speakers at the Symposium will include Rev. Protopresbyter Peter Delvizis, the Presiding Priest of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church; Archon Hon. B. Theodore Bozonelis, the National Vice Commander of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; and Celia Kapsomera, the Chair of the Cultural Committee at Holy Trinity parish.
Kapsomera noted that “very few institutions have had as an enduring and prominent position in world history as the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. This presentation is a great opportunity to hear about its mission and its role in the expansion and defense of Christianity from its founding until today.”
The Symposium will present and discuss the founding of the Church in Constantinople by Saint Andrew the First-Called during the time of the Holy Apostles, in 38 A.D., as well as her period of glory as the foremost Church of the Roman (Byzantine) Empire from 324 to 1453 AD; her captivity under the Ottoman sultans from 1453 to 1821 AD; her situation after Greece won its independence from the empire in 1821; and her situation in modern times.
Symposium speakers will also discuss the autocephalous churches of the Eastern Orthodox Church; the Ecumenical Patriarchate today; the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s struggle for religious freedom and human rights; the role of the United States as a leading Eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; and our Holy Mother Church of Constantinople today engages with the modern world by means of ecumenical global initiatives.
Refreshments will be served after the event, allowing attendees the opportunity to continue to discuss topics of specific interest arising from the Symposium.
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church is located at 250 Gallows Hill Rd. Westfield, N.J., 07090. Parking is complimentary. For more information, please call the church office at 908-233-8533; email kathyg@htgocnj.org; or consult the church’s website, holytrinitywestfield.org.
