We are thrilled to announce that applications for the 2025 HDF Odyssey for Directors are NOW OPEN! We have partnered with our friends at Kyklos in Thessaloniki to organize an amazing tour of Northern Greece focused on many of the rich Apokries traditions in that area. The trip will take place February 21 - March 3, 2025 and is open to members of the HDF family aged 21 and up. The application period will close on June 15th, and scholarship recipients will be announced by August 1st.
On the evening of March 24, 2024, faithful from around the Northeast Conference gathered in Winston-Salem to pray the Great Vespers for the feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos.
The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate sponsor an all-expense paid Pilgrimage of Discovery to Constantinople for our young adults (23-30 years of age). August 4-11, 2024. Application due March 29, 2024. Click HERE to apply!
On Feb 10, 2024 Fr. Paul and Presvytera Joan Mayernick welcomed His Grace Bishop Sebastian of Zelon with open arms to St. Elizabeth the Wonderworker Church in Gainesville, Fla. His Grace hosted our award winning Afieroma dance group with a reception before they performed at the Gala in his honor later that evening.
On January 20, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Mobile and St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church in Gulf Shores co-hosted a Young Adult retreat for the Western Conference. His Grace Bishop Sevastianos was in attendance, and Robert Krantz – Greek-American director, actor, and author – was the keynote speaker.
A record 4,000 participants gathered Jan. 11-15 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando to attend the 23rd Hellenic Dance Festival (HDF). The Metropolis of Atlanta-sponsored event hosted record numbers from across its Metropolis and beyond. Participants included 68 dance groups representing parishes from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Colorado, Virginia, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Kansas, and Nebraska. HDF also welcomed for the first time groups from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Thessaloniki, Greece, and the Hellenic Roots of the Greek School of Plato in Brooklyn, New York. The weekend was highlighted by the attendance and participation of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America. The 2024 event was the first in HDF history to include an additional full day of competition.
With the blessings of His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios, oficiated by Bishop Sebavastianos, our annual Winter Youth Rally began with our 540 GOYAns and their advisors praying from 55 parishes in our Annunciation Metropolis Cathedral, as we prayer the blessing of the waters service as a Metropolis Church Family. This annual event, was prayed with resounding voices, especially as our Metropolis Youth chanted the hymn of Saint Stephen in unison, remembering this great martyr Saint celebrated today, and as the beloved Patron Saint of our Metropolis Summer Camp. May our Lord continue to guide our youth to glorify His Most Honored and Majestic Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Revered Father Kyriakos Hambos, efimerios of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Orlando, organized the Goya Advent Retreat of the N.E. Florida Conference for the weekend of 8th - 10th of December.
On November 20th and 21st , Western Conference clergy and faithful gathered at the Presentation of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church in Malbis (Daphne, Alabama), to celebrate the Feast Day.
On behalf of His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios, I thank our clergy and their parishioners for traveling to Atlanta and participating in our 26th Archangel Michael Feast & Honors Weekend. [Read more]
On Tuesday, October 17th, clergy and faithful from several North Carolina communities gathered in Mooresville for worship and fellowship to celebrate the feastday of St. Luke! Fr. Sarantis Loulakis, Vicar of the Northeast Conference, offered a homily encouraging those in attendance to emulate the Holy Evangelist and be a healing presence in the world. Χρόνια Πολλά! Many years!
Clergy & Parish Council Boards of Elections are asked to review the 2023 Guidelines and Forms before planning their Fall Parish Council Elections. Click to read.
The Liturgical Arts Academy, a division of the Orthodox Christian Academy of Atlanta, has continued to grow and develop its program with another successful event this year. Offering intensive training in Byzantine Chant and Iconography, TLAA is held every year at the Metropolis of Atlanta Diakonia Retreat Center in Salem, SC during the month of August.
During the weekend of August 18th-20th, the popular Goya Beach Reach Retreat sponsored by Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Daytona Beach Florida made its dynamic comeback.
His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios thanks God and all participants for an engaging Metropolis of Atlanta Clergy Laity Assembly hosted by St. Nicholas Cathedral. Fr. Athanasios Haros, Nicholas Manias, & Honorable Mayor of Tarpon Springs, Costa Vatikiotis, you and your co-workers opened your hearts as you offered hospitality and support to our 350+ participants. We leave filled with joy and enthusiasm to implement insights we learned to boost our Holy Faith and its ministries throughout the eight southeastern US states with its 75 parishes under the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Glory to God for these blessings. May He similarly bless Holy Trinity Church in Charleston, SC… the host of our 2025 assembly.
All participants of our 2023 Clergy Laity Assembly are invited to the Workshops on Friday and Saturday, June 23-24, 2023. Parishioners visiting or living in the area who wish to attend them may do so at no charge. Please be aware no food is offered without registration tickets or advance purchases.
On Wednesday April 19, 2023, a beautiful and sun-filled day that can only be described as “Xara Theou,” a longtime dream became a living reality. His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios, of the Holy Metropolis of Atlanta officiated at the service of the Laying of the Foundation Stone for the St. Hermione Home (SHH) in Charlotte, NC.
18 junior and senior students from 7 of the 10 parishes in the Central Conference participated in the District Oratorical Festival on Saturday, April 22nd.
