Ambassador of Greece to Canada Visits Toronto and our Holy Metropolis

From January 8-11, 2015, His Excellency George Marcantonatos, the recently appointedAmbassador of Greece to Canada, along with his family, visited the Greater Toronto Area and our Holy Metropolis.

On Thursday, January 8, His Excellency attended a dinner organized by the Executive Council of the Greater Toronto Area Philoptochos. There were 180 representatives who participated, led by the National President, Ms. Efthimia Coutsougeras; the dinner was held at the Prophet Elias Church in Mississauga, Ontario.

The following day, Mr. Marcantonatos visited the successful and ever-growingMetamorphosis Greek Orthodox School in Toronto. He was very moved and enthused to see first-hand the high academic level and teaching of Greek Orthodox values that students receive there.

Following that visit, His Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios hosted a luncheon at the Metropolis for the Ambassador and his family, Consul General of Greece in Toronto, Mr. Alexandros Ioannidis, Ms. Efthimia Coutsougeras, and Mr. Spyros Volonakis, Director of the Office of Greek Education for our Holy Metropolis. His Excellency, along with all of the guests, was given a tour by His Eminence, which included the St. John the Theologian Chapel.

The entire delegation, including Ambassador Marcantonatos and Metropolitan Sotirios, together visited the Greek and Cypriot Consulates in Toronto, where His Eminence performed an Agiasmo service, assisted by Rev. Fr. Haridimos Sarris, and together everyone cut the traditional Vasilopita at both Consulates.

On Sunday, January 11, Metropolitan Sotirios presided over the celebration of the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of St. Theodosios the Great (the Cenobiarch), at the Prophet Elias Church.

Among the dignitaries present was Mr. Marcantonatos, his family, along with Consul General Ioannidis and his family. Following the Divine Liturgy, the church community, led by its Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Theologos Drakos, and its President, Mr. Dimitrios Tsatsaronis, Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, organized a luncheon for all parishioners.