The faithful of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, welcomed Hierarchs of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America on Sunday, October 4, for a solemn pan-Orthodox Hierarchical Concelebration of the Divine Liturgy, highlighting the unity of the Orthodox Church across jurisdictions in North America.
More than 300 Orthodox Christians from across the Pittsburgh area gathered for the Divine Liturgy, which was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America, together with fellow Hierarchs and clergy representing the various Orthodox jurisdictions in the country, the orthodox observer reported.
Vocation to love, the center for Pan-Orthodox unity
During the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Irinej delivered the homily, emphasizing the Christian vocation to love one another according to the example of Christ. Reflecting on the inseparable connection between divine love and the presence of God.
“Where love is present, God will also be there present. And most certainly where God is present, there too is love, for He is love.” His Grace stated.
At the conclusion of the service, Archbishop Elpidophoros presented the Medal of St. Theodora, the highest distinction conferred by the Assembly of Bishops, to Anne van den Berg in recognition of her longstanding and dedicated service to the cause of Orthodox Christian unity in the United States.
The Assembly also recognized Mark Arey as a recipient of the 2026 Medal of St. Theodora. Although unable to attend the event in person, his contributions to fostering cooperation and unity among Orthodox Christians were likewise acknowledged.
The gathering served as a visible witness to the unity of the Orthodox Church in America and reaffirmed the commitment of the Assembly of Bishops to strengthening cooperation, common witness, and mutual love among the Orthodox faithful.
