Ecumenical Patriarch addresses Bishop-Elect Gregory

(Ecumenical Patriarchate) - His All-Holiness addresses Bishop-elect Gregory of Nyssa of the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA.

Your Grace, Bishop-Elect Gregory of Nyssa,

It is with joy that we announce to you the unanimous election by the Holy and Sacred Synod of your beloved Grace to Bishop of Nyssa.

The elevation of a clergyman to the archpriestly degree of ordination is of itself a supreme honor. Yet, in this case, the honor and responsibility are especially significant inasmuch as you have been elected to the title of the most philosophical of the Church Fathers, St. Gregory of Nyssa, the “founder of Christian mystical thought” and brother of Basil the Great.

Therefore, your title affiliates you with this holy family as well as with the region of Cappadocia, which has given birth to numerous saints, thereby incorporating you into the choir of revered Hierarchs of this venerable Ecumenical Throne, which you will henceforth serve as head of our beloved Carpatho-Russian communities, succeeding the late Metropolitan Nicholas of Amissos of blessed memory.

You are Greek by origin and you will shepherd Orthodox faithful belonging to another ethnicity, which also received the light of faith and civilization from the Mother Church of Constantinople. This, too, is distinct evidence of the ecumenical nature of this Throne and of the historical reality that the Church of Constantinople has through the ages always embraced the words of the Apostle Paul, that “there is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3.28) …endowing these words with content, as it continues to do to this day with the “people, races, and tongues” (Rev. 11.9) under its canonical protection.

Your Grace, your archpriestly ministry in the United States of America will be exercised under the supervision of our Exarch there, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, who also sought – worthily and successfully – to bring to a conclusion the process that led to your candidacy, which was jubilantly revealed and recommended by the Communities, whose Bishop and leader you have been appointed.

Therefore, we congratulate your Grace and express our wholehearted conviction that you will fully vindicate the aspirations, expectations and confidence resting on you. May you always remain a faithful servant of the Mother Church, obedient to her commands, directions and decisions.