New Greek Orthodox Archbishop Enthroned

His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios was enthroned Saturday as the spiritual leader of America’s 1.5 million Greek Orthodox Christians, a community that was largely dissatisfied with the reign of his predecessor.

First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton was among more than 700 attendees at the service, which took place at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan. But in contrast to her other recent visits to New York, the potential U.S. Senate candidate was far from the center of attention.

The day marked the end of a tumultuous three-year reign by Archbishop Spyridon, who was widely criticized for a conservative, autocratic leadership style that many Greek Americans found alienating.

Spyridon resigned Aug. 18, and Demetrios was elected by church leaders the following day.

The much beloved and aging former Archbishop Iakovos, who was Spyridon’s predecessor, passed the symbolic gold staff to Demetrios.

The new archbishop preached a message of unity.

He asked the nation’s Greek Orthodox to set aside their differences, which he said “drive away the peace of God.”

Mrs. Clinton, who sat with the archbishop during a celebratory lunch at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, told the crowd of more than 1,400 in attendance that his message was one all Americans should heed.

The enthronement, with the service mostly in Greek, took place in the nave of the church, where stunning stained-glass windows featuring images of Jesus and the 12 apostles surround the pulpit.

The Greek Orthodox religion dates to the time of Christ, and followers consider it the only unbroken chain of Christian worship. The Greek Orthodox church split from the Catholic Church in 1054.