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Announcement of the Committee for the Revision of the Charter of the Holy Archdiocese of America


GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
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NEWS RELEASE


For Immediate Release:
May 10, 2001


Announcement from the Committee for the Revision of the Charter of the Holy                         Archdiocese of America
New York ? The Committee for the revision of the Charter of the Holy Archdiocese of America convened at the Phanar (Constantinople) on May 9 ? 10 and released the following announcement.
                                                              ANNOUNCEMENT
The Committee for the revision of the Charter of the Holy Archdiocese of America convened, as previously agreed, at the Phanar under the chairmanship of Their Eminences Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Ephesus and Archbishop Demetrios of America. The Committee worked on May 9 ? 10, in the spirit of brotherly love and mutual understanding. Fully aware of the responsibility placed upon them, they reviewed provisions for the proposed Charter from a combined text of both the Archdiocese and the Mother Church.
The first 13 articles of the joint draft were carefully evaluated and discussed. Agreement was reached following a full exchange of views and concurrence of opinion.
In particular, they discussed the subjects of the election of the Archbishop of America in the event of a vacancy; the elevation of the Dioceses to Metropolises within the Archdiocese; the method of election of the Metropolitans; and the elevation of the present Bishops to Metropolitans. Both sides reached agreement on these subjects, with the exception of one practical point, to wit: one of the qualifications of a candidate for the office of Archbishop. This will be further discussed together with the remaining articles at the next and final phase of the work of the Committees. This meeting will reconvene at the Phanar, June 20 ? 21.
The parties expressed their satisfaction with the agreement reached and for the work that, by the grace of the Risen Lord, has been accomplished. This work is directed toward the ongoing stability and progress of the Archdiocese, the further preservation and consolidation of the unity of this foremost Eparchy of the Ecumenical Throne, as well as the strengthening of the indissoluble bonds between these two institutions, the Mother Church and the Archdiocese of America.
At the Patriarchate, May 10, 2001
                              /s/ Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Ephesus /s/ Archbishop Demetrios of America