NEW YORK  [Greek Orthodox Archdiocese] The first Episcopal Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Hierarchs in North and Central America was convened today by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America at the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel in New York City.

This Assembly is the result of the decision of the Fourth Pre-Conciliar Pan-Orthodox Conference, which met in Chambésy Switzerland in June of 2009, after the extraordinary Synaxis of all the Heads of the Autocephalous Churches convened by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. This  Assembly, one of twelve that will be convened around the world in regions where there is no single Orthodox presence, will consist of the active canonical bishops who reside in the region designated as North and Central America. In every Assembly, the chairman will be the senior bishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Following a short prayer service, Archbishop Demetrios delivered his Keynote Address to the Assembly, the text of which can be found in its entirety at http://edit.goarch.org/news/addressassembly/view

Representing the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese at this historic Episcopal Assembly is His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas. 

 Photos are courtesy of Dimitri Panagos of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.  Additional Photos are available at: http://photos.goarch.org/main.php?g2_itemId=3009