Orthodox leader visits Annapolis church

In all of his 60-plus years, Mike Tsourounis never thought he would be standing in the same room as the ecumenical patriarch, the leader of the Orthodox Church worldwide.

But last night, Tsourounis was part of the welcoming party that greeted Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Annapolis.

"I never thought I'd live to see the supreme boss come and talk to our congregation," the 34-year parishioner said. "Now I have an opportunity to be part of the welcoming party."

The patriarch stopped in Annapolis last night to celebrate his 18th anniversary as the leader of the seven branches of the Orthodox church, blessing the faithful who gathered in the church's parking lot, leading a doxology service for parishioners and visiting religions leaders inside the sanctuary.

"It is … fitting that our patriarchal anniversary remembrance should be in this state of Maryland, founded as it was on the principle of religious liberty, founded as a colony of free men seeking the free exercise of their faith in the triune God," he told the congregation. "Our patriarchal mission these 18 years has been likewise to champion the cause of human rights for all people, especially in matters of faith and conscience."

Leaders and members of Sts. Constantine and Helen parish were awed by the chance to meet the patriarch.

"It's the greatest honor that we could possibly have, because he is the spiritual leader of 300 million people worldwide," said the Rev. Kosmas Karavellas, the church's pastor. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our parish and the community of Annapolis, and it's a great blessing to be blessed by him."

Patriarch Bartholomew has been visiting churches, universities and political leaders in the United States since Oct. 20, beginning in New Orleans, where he led a symposium on religion, science and the environment.After traveling to New York, where he met with United Nations officials, he arrived Sunday in the Washington, D.C., area, where his plans include meetings this week with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

But yesterday was about his own anniversary and a chance to meet with parishioners. He even stayed for a banquet in his honor.

"He wanted to see as many of the faithful as possible," said Stavros Papagermanos, director of the press office, news and media relations at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Sts. Constantine and Helen "is a big parish - it's a little further out from Washington," he said. "This was a parish that (the patriarch) decided to visit."

A warm welcome

Local parishioners, and some from neighboring Orthodox parishes, started gathering long before the patriarch arrived, lining the sidewalk to one side of the circular driveway.

Small children dressed in traditional Greek costume gathered at the top of the stairs with tiny flags, and altar boys, priests and bishops flanked both sides of a red carpet spread down the stairs to welcome the patriarch.

They started cheering as soon as they heard the sirens of his escort, holding thin, white candles aloft while a choir began to sing in Greek.

Children tossed flower petals before him, and the priests kissed his hand as he passed them.

"It's a huge honor," said Matthew Gray of Annapolis, a senior altar server who oversees the altar boys. "I never would have thought that the patriarch would come to Annapolis."

Mary Paros of Baltimore and Eleni K. Pletcher of Annapolis were waiting in the front row of eager parishioners.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a lot of people … to be blessed by him," Pletcher said.

She was born and raised in the Orthodox church, she said, and was amazed that the patriarch was coming.

The church's patriarchs "never visit a parish," she said. "For him to do this means a lot to us."

Paros agreed.

"It's a privilege to be able to see him. Who knows when we can see him again?" she said.

After being greeted by the church's leaders, the patriarch blessed the people who gathered to see him - first in Greek, then in English.

"I greet you with a great paternal love," he told them. "I greet you with a message of love and peace from the mother church in Constantinople. … I feel proud of my spiritual children in America."

Inside the sanctuary, the patriarch donned a rich robe of wine-red and gold to lead the Great Doxology - a liturgy half-chanted, half-sung in Greek - before addressing the congregation again.

"Your reception of our paternal visitation in all filial devotion and love is a proof beyond words of the truth of our title as ecumenical patriarch," he told them. "For you have received us, not merely as a dignitary or ecclesiastical celebrity, but in truth as a spiritual father and pastor."

For John Alvanos of Annapolis, a lifelong member of Sts. Constantine and Helen, the meaning of the evening was beyond words.

"He's a good man," he said. "This is our leader, our patriarch. … Words cannot express it. It's very touching."

But Sue Crandall of Edgewater, a recent convert to the Orthodox church, could hardly keep the words in.

"This is wonderful, this is just wonderful," she said. "This is so important to me, this is my faith."