Clergy-Laity Congress

CLEVELAND, Ohio–During a joint session of the 48th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress and the 2026 National Young Adult League (YAL) Conference on July 2, National YAL leaders brought together clergy, lay leaders, and young adults for a collaborative

Read the original announcement from the Metropolis of Atlanta here.  At July 2’s Agape Awards at the Clergy Laity Congress in Cleveland, Ohio, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros praised the women of Philoptochos as faithful servants,

The 48th Clergy-Laity Congress and concurrent National Philoptochos Convention concluded July 2 with a closing Grand Banquet in the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Cleveland, Autograph Collection. Delegates, participants, and guests gathered for a final

After full days of workshops, panels, liturgical services, and ministry presentations, clergy and lay delegates gathered on Thursday, July 2, 2026, for the Plenary Session of the 48th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress in Cleveland, Ohio, to

From the opening moments of the 2026 Clergy-Laity Congress in Cleveland, the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians has underscored the vital role sacred music continues to play in the life of the Greek

The “Leadership Formation for Women and Girls in Lay Ministries” panel at the 2026 Clergy-Laity Congress brought together five leaders to discuss leadership pathways and active ministries led by women across the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese

A two-part session at the 48th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress in Cleveland, Ohio took up one of the more pressing realities facing parishes across the Archdiocese: a notable influx of inquirers and the challenge of welcoming,

On July 2nd, Eva Konstantakos, National Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries (Y2AM); John Panos, Chair of the 2026 National Young Adult League Conference; and Lenie Tsakonas, National Chair of the Young Adult League

On the final day of the 2026 Clergy-Laity Congress, Rev. Dr. Peter J. Spiro presented the workshop “Protecting Children in the Digital Age: Cyberbullying, Online Predators and Trafficking Risks” on behalf of the FREEDOM Ministry

On the final morning of the 48th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress and National Philoptochos Convention, the Philoptochos Agape Breakfast brought together the women of the National Philoptochos Society in a spirit of celebration and gratitude.  His

Dr. Ann Bezzerides, Executive Director of the CrossRoad Institute and Director of the Office of Vocation & Ministry at Hellenic College Holy Cross, and Theo Nicolakis, the Archdiocese’s Director of National Ministries, delivered the closing

Delegates attending the Clergy-Laity Congress learned about a significant new initiative aimed at strengthening the long-term financial well-being of those who serve the Church. During a dedicated session on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s

During the 48th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress in Cleveland, the Sixth Monastic Synaxis convened — a gathering of profound significance, bringing together members of monastic communities from across the United States to deepen their commitment to

On July 1, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America visited the Chaplains Meeting at the 48th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress in Cleveland, offering his blessing and remarks to the gathered Military and Institutional Chaplains. The Archdiocese’s

On July 1, an Ecumenical Luncheon took place as part of the 48th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress in Cleveland, Ohio.  His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America offered a prayer and blessing over the meal, presenting gifts

“Best Legal Practices for Parishes,” a workshop presented by George A. Tsougarakis, General Counsel of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, provided clergy and lay leaders with practical guidance on the legal, governance, and risk-management

The “Equipping and Building Accessible and Whole Communities” panel at the 2026 Clergy-Laity Congress in Cleveland offered practical guidance for parishes to become more welcoming and supportive of people with disabilities and their families. Speakers

During the 2026 Clergy-Laity workshop which focused on integrating and expanding youth involvement—”From Pew to Purpose: Building Pathways for our Youth to Serve, Belong and Lead”—speakers led an interactive conversation between audience members and panelists.

The Music Education Leadership Initiative (MELI) is a new national program from the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians, designed to strengthen parish music leadership across the Archdiocese. In the Clergy-Laity Congress workshop “Music

On a warm summer evening in Cleveland, the busy schedule of the Clergy-Laity Congress gave way to an evening devoted to family, fellowship and joy–the traditional Clergy-Laity Congress Clergy Family Dinner, sponsored by the Archons

On July 1st, Jonathan Richeson, former USAF Officer and current Protective Security Advisor (PSA) for the Cleveland District of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and Rev. Dr. Peter Spiro, Director of the Archdiocese National

Delegates to the Clergy-Laity Congress gathered for the workshop “Best Teaching Strategies: A Framework for Orthodox Catechists,” which focused on strengthening parish education through engaging teaching methods and practical classroom resources. The workshop highlighted how 

The findings of a sweeping national survey of clergy and ministry leaders took center stage on July 1 during the 48th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress in Cleveland, Ohio, as delegates gathered for a Congress Conversations session

At the 2026 Clergy-Laity Congress, attendees explored a fresh and theological approach to parish volunteerism during the workshop “Engaging Volunteers: How to Find, Engage, and Maintain Effective Volunteers,” presented by Orthodox theologian Dr. Eve Tibbs.