The Archdiocesan Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America met for its semi-annual meeting on May 8-9, 2008, at the New York Hilton Hotel. The Council began its work with Sub-Committee meetings which were held Thursday evening. The full Council was convened the next morning with an opening prayer service and introductory remarks from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America.

In an effort to better understand and address the needs of young adults, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries has developed the Young Adult Survey. By listening to the voice of young adults living in our society, the Department is looking to create new, effective ministries for this demographic.

We conclude our series on renewal by addressing the most significant purpose of our spiritual transformation to salvation and eternal life. Over the past few months, we have examined the importance of the renewal of heart, renewal of spirit, and renewal of our lifestyles. These are vital areas in giving us knowledge and direction in the heavenly kingdom. They are also aspects of the complete and saving renewal of our relationship with God. The renewal of this relationship is the ultimate goal of our lives.

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of 250 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, has been recognized by Time Magazine as one of the world’s most influential people. This is the fifth annual list compiled by the magazine.

On the Friday of Bright Week, Archbishop Demetrios led seven Hierarchs of the Orthodox Church, including Metropolitans Maximos of Pittsburgh and Isaiah of Denver; Bishop Philotheos of Meloa; Metropolitan Constantine, Archbishop Antony, and Bishop Andrej of the Ukrainian Church; Bishop Thomas of Charleston, Oakland and the Mid-Atlantic (Antiochian Archdiocese); and prominent Roman and Eastern Catholic Hierarchs at the Jubilee for the 25th Anniversary of Ordination to the Episcopacy of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Amissos, who is the Primate of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA (of the Ecumenical Patriarchate). The inclusion of Bishop Philotheos in the celebration was particularly meaningful, as Bishop Philotheos was the last remaining Co-Consecrator of Metropolitan Nicholas.

At the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Jewish Committee in Washington, DC, Archbishop Demetrios of America joined the ranks of a select few, including Billy Graham and Edward Cardinal Cassidy, by being the recipient of the ISAIAH AWARD for interreligious understanding. This award follows close on the Archbishop’s reception of the inaugural “Damaskinos Award” that was bestowed by the American Sephardi Federation and the American Friends of the Jewish Museum of Greece.