Courtesy of Nicola Tsermoulas, from Viki, Chios
Archbishop Elpidophoros of Americas landed at Chios’ Omiros Airport at noon on Saturday September 3, 2022. The local hierarch, Metropolitan Markos of Chios, Psara and Oinousses, welcomed him to the island at the Metropolis headquarters where warm greetings were exchanged.
Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Americas during his visit to Chios on Sunday said that he was from Chios and that his ancestors come from a village named Viki.
On Monday September 5, 2022, Archbishop Elpidophoros visited the University of Aegean in Chios to receive an honorary doctorate. The person in charge of showing the university told the Archbishop that he was from Viki and that he lives during the summer there and that the people from the village had invited Archbishop to come and visit them, which he gladly agreed.
On Tuesday he arrived in Viki at 2.30pm, and he stayed until 5.30. During his visits to the village, he talked about his family and his ancestors.
The Archbishop has offered to come every year to VIKI from now on. The people of Viki were very impressed with his willingness to learn about the village, altogether seat in the square eating and talking together including meeting the older lady from the village.
It was very exciting day for all the village to meet him and his mother and talk with them.
According to an article from Orthodox Observer, during the trip, the Archbishop will celebrate liturgy and pray at the tomb of Ecumenical Patriarch Joachim IV—a native Chiote. He will also return to Kivotos Tou Kosmou, which he visited last year in September.
Kivotos Tou Kosmou—the Ark of the World—is an internationally acclaimed Greek philanthropy founded by Father Antonios Papanikolaou in response growing problems afflicting abandoned and domestically abused children in Greece.
The mission of the Kivotos is to provide the children with a safe, loving environment to live, heal, and grow.
