Την Δευτέρα, 30 Ιουνίου 2025, εορτή της Σύναξης των Αγίων Δώδεκα Αποστόλων, ο Σεβασμιώτατος Μητροπολίτης Νέας Ιερσέης κ. Απόστολος τέλεσε την πανηγυρική Θεία Λειτουργία στον Ι. Ναό Αγίου Αθανασίου στο Πάραμους του Νιου Τζέρσεϊ. Κληρικοί και πιστοί από όλη την Μητρόπολη της Νέας Ιερσέης υποδέχθηκαν θερμά τον Ποιμενάρχη τους και συμμετείχαν στον εορτασμό των ονομαστηρίων του.
Η χαρά της πανηγυρικής Λειτουργίας ήταν διπλή, καθώς ο Σεβασμιώτατος χειροτόνησε σε διάκονο απόφοιτο της Ελληνορθόδοξης Θεολογικής Σχολής του Τιμίου Σταυρού.
Μετά την Θ. Λειτουργία, η Κοινότητα παρέθεσε γεύμα προς τιμήν του Σεβασμιωτάτου στην αίθουσα εκδηλώσεων του Ναού. Ο Σεβ. κ. Απόστολος εξέφρασε τις θερμότερες ευχαριστίες του σε όλους όσοι παρευρέθηκαν και ευχήθηκαν για τα ονομαστήριά του.
Την παραμονή της εορτής ο Μητροπολίτης Ν. Υερσέης χοροστάτησε στον Εσπερινό, μέσα σε πανηγυρική ατμόσφαιρα και εν μέσω πολλών πιστών.
On Monday, June 30, 2025, the feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Apostles, His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey, celebrated the Festal Divine Liturgy at the church of St. Athanasios in Paramus, New Jersey. Clergy and faithful from throughout the Metropolis of New Jersey welcomed His Eminence and joined him in celebration of his name day. The grace and joy of the festal Liturgy was two-fold as His Eminence also ordained Julian Kollias, a 2019 Graduate of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, to the diaconate.
In his speech, Deacon Julian expressed his deepest gratitude to His Eminence for entrusting him with the ministry of the diaconate. Dn. Julian expressed in his words the gravity of the decision he faced. Ordained ministry is not a worldly promotion but a calling to sacrifice ones own life for Christ’s Kingdom. This phenomenon is exemplified in the lives of the clerical saint such as St. Nectarios of Aegina who attested to this in his words and actions, bringing many to Christ through the sacrifices he made in his own life. In his remarks, His Eminence congratulated Deacon Julian for accepting his call to serve the Metropolis of New Jersey. His Eminence, citing his Deacon Julian’s knowledge of the faith and sincerity, shared his great optimism about Dn. Julian’s future ministry. His Eminence also congratulated Dn. Julian’s wife, Katerina for supporting her husband and offers his earnest prayers and heartfelt blessings that they be granted strength and guidance from above. At the end of his remarks, His Eminence announced that Dn. Julian would be assigned as a second clergyman to the historic Cathedral of the Annunciation in Baltimore, Maryland.
Following the service, the community along with Pan-Gregorian Enterprises hosted a luncheon in honor of His Eminence’s name-day in the Church Hall. His Eminence offered his deepest gratitude to all who supported and attended the celebration of the feast, The Metropolis Clergy, the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, The Members of the Pan-Gregorian Enterprises, The Ladies of the Philoptochos Society, The Saint Athanasios Parish Council and all the faithful in attendance.
On the evening of Sunday, June 29th, 2025, on the occasion of His name-day, His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey celebrated the Great Vespers for the feast of the Synaxis of the 12 Apostles at the Parish of St. Athanasios in Paramus, New Jersey. Upon his arrival, His Eminence was greeted by clergy, Archons, Philoptochos members, seminarians and faithful from across the Metropolis of New Jersey.
During the Festal Vespers, His Eminence elevated Metropolis Chancellor, Fr. Gregory Gilbert, to the rank of Protopresbyter. Fr. Gregory, in turn, offered the vesperal sermon in honor of His Eminence’s name day. Fr. Gregory’s homily underscored the ministry of the two foremost apostles of Christ, Saints Peter and Paul. The lives of Saints Peter and Paul show us that apostolic action in the life of the Church occurs on the basis of allowing ourselves to be changed by Christ. In the Creed, after confessing our belief in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Fr. Gregory exclaimed that we most importantly proclaim our belief in the Apostolic nature of the Church. This apostolic nature of the Church is a call to mimic St. Peter’s proclamation of faith, that Christ is indeed the “Son of the living God”, which we learn and struggle to express during the course of our life. Fr. Gregory ended his sermon by congratulating His Eminence and wishing him many years on His name-day, emphasizing how His Eminence has lived up to the nature of his name, having left his home country to preach the true Orthodox faith in a foreign land where it had yet to be established.
At the end of the Vespers, His Eminence was joined by the Ladies of the Philoptochos to award the Metropolis seminarians the Walking with Christ Scholarship. The goal of this initiative -established by His Eminence- is to assist the young men of the metropolis pursuing the ministry of priest by offsetting the cost of their education. 5 young men, Demetrios Constantinou, Nikolaos Schwartz, Andoni Apostolides and Nikolaos Kavarakas were awarded the scholarship by His Eminence.
Following the vespers service, Proistamenos Fr. Nikolaos Mataragas invited all those attending to the Church hall for a dinner in Honor of His Eminence’s Nameday. During the meal, young people from the St. Athanasios GOYA showcased traditional Greek Folk dances to honor His Eminence’s visit.
Photo Credits: Douglas John Photography
