GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA

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NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:

ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW TO ARRIVE IN THE UNITED STATES MAY 22

New York,NY - His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of nearly 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, will arrive in the United States on May 22nd and leave on May 25th for a week long pastoral visit to Greek Orthodox communities in Canada. His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, will accompany His All Holiness to Canada.

The Ecumenical Patriarch will arrive at Westchester Airport on Friday May 22nd at 4:00 p.m. He will be met by Archbishop Spyridon, County Executive Andy Spano, religious and community leaders and Greek Orthodox faithful from throughout the metropolitan New York area.

On Saturday, May 23rd at 4:00 p.m., His All Holiness will preside at Great Vespers at Saint Irene Chrysovalantou Church in Astoria, NY. Thousand of faithful will welcome the Ecumenical Patriarch at a procession which will begin at 31st St. and 23rd Ave. and proceed to the church.

Orthodox Christians from throughout New England will gather at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Bridgeport,CT on Sunday, May 24th where His All Holiness will celebrate the Patriarchal Liturgy beginning at 8:30 a.m.

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