Photo by facebookArchbishop Elpidophoros of America is in Alaska
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America is in Alaska for the consecration of the Holy Church of the Transfiguration of Christ in Anchorage, marking the first archiepiscopal visit to the remote Greek Orthodox community in nearly half a century.
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ANCHORAGE, AK — In a historic milestone for Orthodoxy in the far north, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America traveled to Alaska for the consecration of the Holy Church of the Transfiguration of Christ in Anchorage. The visit marks the first time an Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has visited this remote parish in nearly half a century.
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America is in Alaska
The Church of the Transfiguration stands as the sole Greek Orthodox parish in Alaska and holds the distinction of being the northernmost parish within the entire Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Despite its extreme geographical isolation—situated thousands of miles away from major centers of Greek-American life—the parish has fostered an exceptionally close-knit and vibrant community, bringing together faithful from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America is in Alaska
The celebratory services commenced on Friday evening with Great Vespers, presided over by Archbishop Elpidophoros. Joining His Eminence for the opening service were Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco and parish priest Father Vasili Hillhouse, along with visiting clergy.
On Saturday, September 19, Archbishop Elpidophoros presided over the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and formally consecrated the church. During the sacred rite, holy relics of the Holy New Martyrs of Samothrace—Michael, George, Emmanuel, Theodore, and George the New—were deposited into the Holy Altar.
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America is in Alaska
Concelebrating the liturgy were Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco; His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos; His Grace Bishop Ioannis of Phocaea; parish priest Fr. Vasili Hillhouse; his father, Fr. Edward Hillhouse; former parish priest Fr. Luke Kontgas; as well as Fr. Alexis Clodfelter, Fr. Marc Dunaway, Fr. Matthew Howell, and Fr. Seraphim Majmudar.
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America is in Alaska
The liturgical chanting was led by Dimitrios Katsiklis, Protopsaltis of the Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine of Saint Nicholas at the World Trade Center.
Following the conclusion of the consecration ceremony, the parish community gathered for an official banquet reception held at the Anchorage Museum. The event concluded with traditional Greek dances performed by the parish youth.
Addressing the gathered faithful during the banquet, Fr. Vasili Hillhouse reflected on the future of the community:
"What will our parish be now? My hope is that... our parish will become a home and a true place of transfiguration for each one of us."
Source / Photos: Orthodox Observer
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