Archbishop Elpidophoros of America participated in peaceful protests unfolding on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, as seen on a Facebook live video by Eric Adams, the president of the Borough of Brooklyn.
With protestors chanting “No justice, no peace,” the Archbishop shared his own voice on the issue of racism and discrimination in America, stating that “It is so important to be all here together. We are all Americans and we are protecting the American values…human dignity, freedom, against racism and any kind of discrimination and violence.”
Also in the video is Andrew Gounardes, a member of the New York State Senate, who participated in the peaceful demonstration. Gounardes said this was a “huge international movement” in which he was proud to participate.
The Brooklyn demonstration comes more than one week after the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of Officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Floyd died after Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes, according to a prosecutor’s statement of probable cause.
Chauvin and his accompanying officers, Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng have all been fired. On Wednesday, Chauvin’s initial charge of third-degree murder was increased to second-degree. The other three officers face charges of aiding and abetting murder.
The incident has sparked protests with tens of thousands of protestors in cities and towns throughout the United States.
Greek Orthodox Church & Civil Rights
The Church’s history of supporting African Americans’ plight spans back more than five decades.
At the peak of the Civil Rights movement in 1965, Archbishop Iakovos walked alongside Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Alabama during the march along the 54-mile state highway to the capital of Montgomery.
Archbishop Demetrios, the predecessor of Elpidophoros, also marched in Selma with President Barack Obama in 2015 to mark the 50th anniversary of the event.
In a Facebook post, the Archbishop Elpidophoros made the following statement regarding his participation in the Wednesday demonstration.
“I came here to Brooklyn today in order to stand in solidarity with my fellow sisters and brothers whose rights have been sorely abused. This was a peaceful protest, one without violence of any kind, and I thank all of those involved, because violence begets only more violence. We must speak and speak loudly against the injustice in our country. It is our moral duty and obligation to uphold the sanctity of every human being. We have faced a pandemic of grave physical illness, but the spiritual illness in our land runs even deeper and must be healed by actions as well as words. And so, I will continue to stand in the breach together with all those who are committed to preserving peace, justice, and equality for every citizen of goodwill, regardless of their race, religion, gender or ethnic origin.”
Video From Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adam’s Facebook
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22 comments
Not one statement of support for good police officers of which many are Greek Orthodox. Wow
tHE MARCH WAS NOT ABOUT POLICE SUPPORT, YOU DUMMY. It was about abuse of power by the police. Next, you’re going to say why didnt they pray for rain. Or sunshine. Trump lovers are so stupid
Bob Karpodinis, Why do you have to be so rude with your comments? I agree with Elias Voulgaris. 600 police have been injured, some seriously and some killed protecting America in this time of chaos and anarchy. I am ashamed that our religious leaders are involved in politics, selectively supporting leftist views. I am a proud Trump supporter and I am not stupid. I think that people like you are ignorant and ill informed, but I wouldn’t post that.. (oops, maybe I just did). Why doesn’t the Archbishop protest against children put in cages during the Obama Administration or protest about abortions and late term abortions?
I agree 100% the sentiment that black lives matter. Those who suffered the horror of new world slavery and their descendants are heroes for enduring racist evil and thereby advanced human civilization so that we may never repeat it. But what I don’t understand is the goal of the BLM movement. When Iokovos marched with Rev Dr Martin Luther King it was to achieve justice so, when among other things, Police commit crimes against African Americans they would face the full force of the criminal justice system. Today it seems BLM is not demanding justice. All law enforcement officers are being charged, one is facing the death penalty. It seems BLM is demanding that never again does a person of color, and only people of color, fall victim to police criminal misconduct. Nice goal, but is it accomplishable. All people commit crime, students, teachers, politicians, mail carriers, priests and yes, police officers. When the stakes are so high we should demand perfection from all our government officials especially law enforcement, but is it worth destroying our communities and the lives of those in them when they don’t. No law has ever been passed that by its passage ended the crime. Is it really useful to supplant names and memories like Dr King, Rosa Parks and Harriett Tubman with Rodney King, Trayvon Martin and George Floyd? More importantly should our Church leaders advance such movements that arguably do more harm than good. Did George Floyd’s life “Matter” more than all those who have lost theirs in his name before the trial of those involved with his death has even begun?
Maybe Archbishop Elpidophoros should visit Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer Shay Mikalonis. He is a 29 year old Greek American, who was critically wounded in a shooting at a Black Lives Matter protest on the Las Vegas Strip!
Ironically, he was protecting the Archbishop’s right to march !!
Louie I’m embarrassed to the max by
this immature follower – he’s not a leader, who’s
trying to mimic AB Iakavos – tell him it’s not
the 1960’s & the only Racism he should address
is Reverse Racism – Liberal Blacks commit 90%
of homicides – It’s sickening to see that dopey pic
of him in a mask parading with Demonic Jesus
haters.
Nicholas D Gatanas… Hey buddy. I’m working on a story about vile and racist Greek Americans. Mind if I phone you to get a quote?
Demonic Jesus-haters. Now that’s a great one. I’m using your quote and will quote you in my story. Thanks “Truth”… You’ve given me a lot of GREAT content here.
The march was about police abuse of power. If you want to pay the airfare to Vegas, maybe he would go. You Trump lovers are so stupid.
That poor guy is now paralyzed from the neck down. Where is his support from the Greek Archdiocese? I guess it won’t be a photo op for the Orthodox Observer.
Bravo! Archbishop Elpidophoros is following in the footsteps of our beloved Archbishop Iakovos!
What a joy to see. I am so proud of the leadership of my church.
SHAME on you Elpi! You gave Zero
condemnation over the non stop Violence &
looting across America! And who the hell should
care what you or the stinking Pope thinks of
your take on leftist savages burning down America?
GO BACK TO YOUR TURKEY ?? kiss up to Bart
& leave us Orthodox in USA to find our own
Archbishop from America! ANAXIOS
Oh Nick… I know you’re 81 years old but you should also know that the internet knows everything about you. At least now I know where I can locate you for the story I’m working on about racism in the Greek American community. Oh look what I found. https://nuwber.com/person/563a8539cf00835c7f9344f0
Great job exposing that jerk. These cowards would say anything while hiding. Thanks Greg. Also, he lives in maywood N.J. His phone number is available. Just click on the link
Iakovos marched in Selma
Being with a Leftist, Activist destructive group paid by Soros it is a mix of politics and religion and a disgrace for Orthodoxy. Thanks God for not being my hierarch. Outside is A Greek and inside is a Turk.
On what the Archbishop does in his personally life should be no ones concern, on matters of faith n the church is a different story. He is still The hierarch Of the GOA. Foul language is never good to be used.
It is good to see The Archbishop marching for this cause and issue. Μπράβου! Peace and positivity are the answers. However it is important for Gregory Pappas to call out the haters among us and I support his doing so in this comments section. Μπράβου! I encourage Gregory to write about the racism that sadly exists in the Greek-American community. I have unfortunately encountered it many times and it is appalling.
Black lives matter is a movement to destroy Donald Trump. I am thankful I do not attend a Greek Orthodox church or I would leave it. I’m at a Serbian Orthodox church and we pray at every Vespers and Divine Liturgy for our president and our armed service. Maybe Archbishop Elpidophoros needs to attend the Serbian Orthodox church since he is void of any discernment is this area. May God have mercy!
Orthodox pray for the president and the army, but, God knows Trump doesnt deserve any prayers. Besides, in the modern world, our leader is the constitution of the land. Not a person. We do NOT worship a person. You are not Greek. You dont know about democracy
This one did not age well. B. urn / L. oot / M. urder Wonder what kind of evil could become of the church if it completely removed itself from political activities all together?
Mr. Karpodinis, I finally was able to read a reply to a post I published back in 2020 on the Pappas Post regarding my dismay that the Archbishop did not show any support for the police yet chose to march with BLM. You called me a “dummy,” which is so very tolerant of you. Nevertheless, I will not attack you nor call you names as you did. I will not resort to your level. I am a retired Commander of the Chicago Police Department with 35 years of service and the founder and president of the Hellenic American Police Association representing approx. 600 law enforcement officers of Greek and Cypriot heritage. The other such organization is the St. Paul’s Society of the NYPD. I echoed the sentiment of our members when I was dismayed at the lack of support by the Archbishop. First off I’d like to educate you on BLM. Let’s start with their battle cry against police officers: “pigs in a blanket, fry em like bacon.” I guess you are fine with that? I know you are not from Chicago, but in Chicago where Black neighborhoods are devastated by violence, BLM is not welcome. In fact, BLM was kicked out of Englewood, a Black community, because the true residents of these neighborhoods know BLM’s agenda and it has nothing to do with them; they have not done anything, and do nothing for the Black communities. In the past weeks, 2 young black girls; 13 and 7 were killed by thugs shooting randomly. Where was BLM? Nowhere to be found! I worked in these neighborhoods, I had discussions with the residents. I can attest that not only do they support the police, they want more of us in their neighborhoods. Now, lets look at the $90 million collected by BLM from virtue signalers. Where has that money gone? Certainly not to the families of the 13 and 7 year old’s I just mentioned, but to a $1.4 million dollar mansion. You called me a “dummy,” because you indicated that BLM is against police brutality. Why did you have to resort to name calling? I did not attack you or anyone. I simply shared my opinion. Did you know that 32 law enforcement officers of Hellenic roots have been killed in-the-line of duty in the U.S? Where is your uproar over this fact? Where are prayers for these 32 men and women? So spare me your name calling when I simply was upset that the Archbishop did not show any support for the majority good, hard working police officers, including the men and women serving in law enforcement who are Greek and Cypriot. You can name call me all you want, but I will defend the fine men and women I represent; not the bad ones, and I will speak up every chance I can and frankly I could care less what you call me. A few days ago, a beautiful, young female Chicago Police Officer was gunned down and killed and her partner is fighting for his life so spare me you bullcrap!