Source: The National Herald

Metropolitan Sevastianos of Atlanta is accompanied by priests who took part in the ceremony of his enthronement. PHOTO BY RITSA ZAHARIS
BOSTON – In the presence of leaders of the Greek-American community and representatives of the governments of Greece and Cyprus as well as Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, the entrhronement of Metropolitan Sevastianos of Atlanta
was held on January 25 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Atlanta, Georgia. The full text of the Metropolitan’s enthronement speech follows:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Thank you for honoring me with your presence. As I give thanks to God for all His blessings, I ponder the words of the Psalmist, “What shall I give back to the Lord for all He rendered Me?” (Ps 115:3).

I give glory to God for all the blessings He has bestowed on me throughout my life. As a young deacon, back in my island of Cyprus, along with my family, we were forced to leave our home as refugees, not knowing if we would ever be able to return. We could never travel the same road back, but God led my steps on a different path. After a long journey in which I pursued education as well as serving the Lord in Pastoral Ministry in Greece, Europe, and the United States, He finally brought me to the hospitable embrace of the Atlanta Metropolis, which became my home. Thus, my joy is exceedingly great today as I am entrusted with the noble office of the Metropolitan, Spiritual Father, and Steward of the home that sheltered and nourished me for many years.

I am grateful to God for filling my life with people who guided me and my ministry. I am thankful for my parents, grandparents, and teachers who laid the foundation of my faith; for my fathers and mothers in Christ, such as the spiritual father of my youth, the saintly Abbot Athanasios from the holy monastery of Stavrovouni. While not all of them are with us today, all were integral to my spiritual formation. I will forever treasure their personal sacrifices in support of my spiritual journey.
Among my teachers are also some clergymen, such as Father Nicholas Triantafillou, Father Emmanuel Vasilakis, Father Petros Kopsahilis, Fr. Frank Kirlangitis, and Fr. George Pallas. Through their own example, they became role models for me, teaching me fear and respect for the sacred office of the Priesthood, as well as the integrity that should govern the priest´s life. They gave me the first lessons on pastoral care, by teaching me always to be discerning and kind, not to be fast in judging others, but instead to be compassionate, always striving to see the living image of God in everyone. I keep their admonitions in my heart as Saint Paul exhorts us to do in his Second Letter to Timothy: “Continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them” (2:14).

Besides my parents, teachers, professors, co-workers, and mentors, I have always looked up to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew as an inspirational role model. He is a courageous leader of world Orthodoxy, who stands for Truth and Reconciliation, who builds bridges both within the Church, and outside to other Churches, Denominations, and Religions. His engagement in dialogue with those who do not share our beliefs demonstrates that the love of God has no bounds. His love for the environment and His leadership, challenges us to be better stewards of God’s Creation.

Furthermore, I have also learned valuable lessons from my predecessor and beloved Geronda [Metropolitan] Alexios, who has shown me abundant love and encouragement. His wisdom, visionary Ministry, and genuine and deep pastoral care, along with his prayers and blessings, will be the foundation and road map for this Metropolis. I extend a special thanks to his family who received me as a brother, and especially to his sister Theodora, who is with us today, along with their cousin, Eleni.
I am equally indebted to Archbishop Demetrios and the entire Eparchial Synod. They entrusted me to be the Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod. Working with them, I was taught day by day how to view, understand, and address issues not only on a parish or a Metropolis level but through the prism of the Archdiocese, even from a Pan-Orthodox spirit of cooperation and love. His Eminence Demetrios’ wisdom has been a treasure of knowledge for me, especially his proverbial patience, always urging for thorough measuring and thinking before acting.
I thank His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros for leading our Archdiocese with dynamism and a steadfast understanding that we are all children of God. His Eminence applies this understanding in real life through His words, His strategies, and primarily through His tireless work to ensure the well-being of the Archdiocese, the Hellenic Diaspora, and of all the faithful Orthodox Christians under His Omophorion. I have been blessed to know and work with His Eminence even before his elevation as a Bishop and coming to the United States, and I look forward and pledge to support His leadership and the unity of the Archdiocese.
I want to extend my gratitude to all of the lay people who were pivotal in the shaping of my spiritual and pastoral growth: my teachers were the first to instill in me that a person should not be measured by his education or social status, but according to his character. Many were the lay leaders who taught me important lessons in all aspects of everyday Church administration, from Stewardship and management to conflict resolution. Among them many are from the Order of the Archons, the AHEPA Brethren, Archdiocese and Metropolis Council Members, Parish Council members, as well as my coworkers who “fight the good fight,” behind the scenes each and every one of them works diligently to serve our Lord. As the Greek Poet Odysseas Elytis reminds us: “My foundations are in the mountains, and the people lift up the mountains on their shoulders.”
My deepest gratitude is, of course, towards my family for their love and support in good times and bad: my parents, grandparents, and relatives of blessed memory; my brother Michael and my sister, Paraskevi; my nephew Sebastian; my niece Diane, and her fiancée, Dustin, and his son, Jackson. Their love and support continue to sustain and strengthen me to labor for Christ and His Holy Church.
I am deeply moved by the gathered Hierarchs, Clergy and Monastics – both from within our Metropolis and Archdiocese, and those who have traveled from Cyprus, like my beloved friend and classmate, His Eminence Metropolitan Vasilios of Constantia and Ammochostos. Having each of you here is indeed a great blessing and joy for me personally and for the Metropolis of Atlanta.
Likewise, I am grateful for the many representatives of religious communities throughout the Southeast who have come to pray with us on this special day. As the Psalm says: “Behold now, what is so good or so pleasant, as for brothers to dwell together in unity!” (132:1). Many thanks are due to the civil dignitaries also here today; I look forward to working with you all, for the best of our local community and our fellow citizens.
Looking around, I see people from my former parishes as a Priest – Huntsville, Birmingham, Marietta, and Tarpon Springs – who have been my faithful coworkers. I see people from our Archdiocese, Archdiocesan Council, and National Philoptochos, and our Metropolis of Atlanta Philoptochos; I see our Metropolis Chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. George Tsahakis and my fellow Metropolis staff; I see Clergy and Parish Council members, and faithful who give of themselves and continue to do so for the sake of Christ and his Church. I need you; God needs you; your brothers and sisters need you.

Some of you have met me as a priest, others as a bishop. From now on, I assure you all, that as Metropolitan, I will remain the same enthusiastic and always eager co-worker of yours, striving to serve the Church of Christ. This is the mission of the Church to be the ‘Ec-clessia’ (‘ἐκ-καλῶ’) that is to say, to be a vivid calling, an invitation: to togetherness in a communion of love, healing, and sanctifying.
This togetherness is exemplified by what Saint Ignatius, the God-Bearer, taught, as he received it from the Apostles and wrote it down to be left as his legacy to the Early Church. None of the bishop’s initiatives can reach completion without the people, nor can any work of the people come to fruition without the Bishop’s blessing. With this legacy, I intend to start my work by adhering to the words of the Apostle Paul, who exhorted the Thessalonians: “Stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.” (2 Thes 2:15). Thus, together we will continue to serve Christ and tending His flock, building on the foundation of my predecessors, and welcoming everyone on our spiritual journey together.
The Church is currently facing many challenges, but we are called to respond to these challenges and to bring Christ’s liberating message to every person, in any circumstance. This is the experience of Orthodox Christianity that we strive to share with our youth. Through the legacy of our beloved Metropolitan Alexios, our youth have plenty of opportunities to develop their faith and cultivate the communal spirit across our Metropolis. I intend to continue and enhance all the existing youth programs and create new ones for Young Adults and newly married couples.
Our youth, and indeed all of us have much to learn from our elders, who have been actively working in the church for many decades. Our church deeply needs and benefits from the monumental sacrifices and love that they have offered and continue to offer. I look forward to seeking their wisdom and to building intergenerational ministries that foster loving relationships, cooperation, and learning among youth and adults across all stages of life. We are all the Body of Christ and we must work together as such.
The harvest ahead is plentiful. My prayer and hope is that Christ will increase and bless our labor of love and add new workers, so that day by day, we grow stronger in His Great Commission and become good and faithful stewards of His field. Furthermore, it is my firm hope that, despite our sinfulness, He will bless the fruit of our labor so that His Light will shine on places that still remain dark. His is the calling: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, the road ahead of us promises to be a journey of hard work and prayer. I invite you all to walk together on this road with hope, courage, and faith in the Triune God who “gives light to every man coming into the world.” (John 1:9). This will be the testimony of our Metropolis of Atlanta to its diverse cities and society.
I pray that on this journey, we will be blessed by the Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos, whose Icon of Vimatarissa sheds Her grace from the Panagia Chapel at our Diakonia Retreat Center, and the Archangel Michael, who from the Metropolis Chapel keeps and protects our Church, and all the faithful people.
Lastly, I seek your prayers and support as I embark on this awesome ministry God has entrusted to me. Remember me in your prayers, just as I remember you in mine. Remain involved in the life of the Church, and your lives and mine will be doubly blessed. God bless you and God bless and multiply the fruit of our labor of love.