JOHNSTOWN, PA ---  His Grace, Bishop Gregory has been informed that he has been invited to serve as a member the Ecumenical Patriarchate's official delegation at the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church, to be held from June 16-27 in Crete. For the first time in 1200 years, the primates of all 14 Orthodox autocephalous (or self-governed) Churches, along with more than 300 bishops and others, will meet to pray and discuss issues of common concern.

According to the official press release issued by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the composition of the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is as follows:

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, President of the Holy and Great Council
His Eminence Archbishop Leo of Karelia and all Finland
His Eminence Metropolitan Stephanos of Tallinn and all Estonia
His Eminence Metropolitan Elder John of Pergamon
His Eminence Archbishop Elder Demetrios of America
His Eminence Metropolitan Augustine of Germany
His Eminence Archbishop Irenaeus of Crete
His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver
His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta
His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of the Princes’ Islands
His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph of Prikonnisos
His Eminence Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia
His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France
His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas of the Dardanelles
His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit
His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco
His Eminence Metropolitan Amphilochios of Kissamos and Selini
His Eminence Metropolitan Ambrosios of Korea
His Eminence Metropolitan Maximus of Selyvria
His Eminence Metropolitan Amphilochios of Adrianopolis
Most Reverend Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia
Most Reverend Metropolitan Antony of Ierapolis, head of the Ukrainian Orthodox in the USA
Most Reverend Archbishop Job of Telmessos, Permanent Representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the World Council of Churches
Most Reverend Archbishop John of Charioupolis, head of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe
His Grace Bishop Gregory of Nyssa, head of the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox in the USA

Special Consultants:

His Grace Bishop Makarios of Christopolis (Estonia)
Very Reverend Archimandrite Tikhon, Abbot of Stavronikita Monastery of Mount Athos
Reverend Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Konstantinos Myron (Germany)
Very Reverend Sister Theoxeni, Abbess of the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegic Monastery of the Life-Giving Spring (Chrysopigi), Chania
Mr. Panteleimon Vingas, Archon Grand Chartophylax of the Holy and Great Church of Christ (Constantinople)
Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, Professor (USA)
Very Reverend Archimandrite Bartholomew Samaras, Chief-Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Secretary to the Holy and Great Council’s President.

The clergy and faithful of the Diocese are asked to pray for the safety and guidance of the Holy Spirit for His Grace, Bishop Gregory and all of the Hierarchs participating in the Holy and Great Council.

Visit the official web site of the Holy and Great Council at www.holycouncil.org.

For additional background information about the Holy and Great Council, you may also visit the official press office of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at www.orthodoxcouncil.org.