06/01/2026
After concluding their time in Constantinople, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America led the students participating in the St. Helen’s Pilgrimage to Mt. Athos where they visited several monasteries and brotherhoods including the monasteries of Xenophontos, Philotheou, and Pantokratoros, as well as the brotherhoods of St. Andrew Sarai and Mikra Agia Anna. Likewise, the group visited the Esphigmenou monastery brotherhood at their center in Karyes.
On Tuesday, May 26th, the students were specially invited at Xenophontos Monastery to chant the Divine Liturgy presided by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and concelebrated by His Grace Bishop Ioannes of Phocaea and several clergy of the monastery and of the Pilgrimage group. On Wednesday, May 27th Bishop Ioannes, who is visiting Mt. Athos for the first time, presided at the Divine Liturgy concelebrated by the clergy of the brotherhood and the Pilgrimage group.
His Eminence and the Pilgrimage group were received very warmly and with joy wherever they went and the experience was transformative for the students a vast majority of whom were going to Mt. Athos for the first time.
When asked about his sentiments, Archbishop Elpidophoros mentioned, “It is always a joy and a blessing to experience the beauty and grace of Orthodox monasticism in a place such as the Holy Mountain which is a rich expression of the Orthodox monastic witness within the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. It is even more satisfying for me as Archbishop to be here with the seniors of the Holy Cross and to show them the depth of our Orthodox heritage as monasticism here has thrived for more than 1,000 years. The spiritual nourishment they receive now will add to their seminary experience and better prepare them for ministry in our Sacred Archdiocese.”
