US, Greek officials pay final respects to former Archbishop of America

Published by Athens News Agency, April 15, 205

US, Greek officials pay final respects to former Archbishop of America

    NEW YORK (ANA/P.Panagiotou) - US and Greek officials gathered at the Holy Trinity Church in Manhattan on Thursday to pay their final respects to former Archbishop of America Iakovos, who died at the age of 94 on Monday.

    Speaking first at the funeral, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos described Iakovos as "a great and unprecedented leader of Orthodoxy, a flagbearer for peace, a true Greek patriot, and a champion of human rights."

    Macedonia-Thrace Minister Nikos Tsiartsionis, who represented Greece at the funeral, referred to Iakovos' attributes - his charismatic personality, as well as his spiritual stature which gained him the respect of political leaders.

    New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, also present at the funeral service, spoke about Iakovos' contribution towards encouraging tolerance and coexistence among the people in the US. Specifically, Bloomberg referred to Iakovos' daring decision to march with civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. in Alabama in 1965. Since then, Iakovos was regarded by Americans as one of the country's major leaders.

    US Senator Paul Sarbanes also spoke about the former archbishop's important work, emphasising that "he was a symbol of the Greek-American community and fought for the grand, human ideals."

    Archbishop of America Demetrios also spoke briefly, conveying a message from Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos from the Phanar. In his letter, Vartholomeos stated that Iakovos possessed international prestige and had honoured the Church by giving genuine expression to Orthodoxy.

    Demetrios added that Iakovos' Greek patriotism never stopped him from being an upstanding US citizen.

    Former New York mayors Ed Koch, David Dinkins and Rudy Giuliani also attended the service, as did other Greek officials and senior clergy.

    The historic prelate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America (now Archdiocese of America), died in Stanford, Connecticut where he was hospitalised with acute respiratory problems.

    Iakovos, born on the island of Imvros, served as Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of America for 37 years, until his resignation in July 1996. He was succeeded by Archbishop Spyridon, who served in the post for three years, followed by the current Archbishop, Demetrios.



Volume 7 Number 16 - Tuesday, April 19th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY