“Anti-Semitism is a fascist practice, anti-evangelical and anti-Christian,” Archbishop Elpidoforos of America said at the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of Saint Gregory of Palamas, on the occasion of the Memorial Day of the victims of the Holocaust.

The archbishop of America emphasized that this is “an anniversary, which we must always remember with caution and reflection, because what happened then does not only concern the Jews, it concerns everyone. As anti-Semitism concerns us all.”

“Anti-Semitism is not only about Israel and Jews. Anti-Semitism is a fascist practice, anti-evangelical and anti-Christian, which always targets a category of people, which today is the Jews, tomorrow it may be someone else and always will be someone. And really it is very dangerous because we, in America, have experienced it at the beginning of the 20th century, when those certain people, the dangerous ones, were us, the Greeks. We were unwanted along with the blacks, when there was discrimination, racial, in America. Therefore these practices must be condemned. Anti-Semitism must find us all opposed, united, all humanity, all people, regardless of race and religion and especially us, Christians, who believe in the equality of people.”

The Metropolitan of Thessaloniki Philotheos welcomed the Archbishop of America and addressed him with greetings, in the presence of the former Metropolitan Anthimos. “We may belong to different ecclesiastical regimes – although North Greece, as you know, the provinces of the new countries belong under the spiritual purpose and blessing of the all-embracing Ecumenical Throne – but to the Holy Eucharist and, more broadly, to faith and morals and life , we are one Church” he said, among other things, addressing the archbishop of America, the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki and added: “We are one Church, one, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, which, we Orthodox are aware, that it is subservient to the Orthodox Our church. So thank you for your visit.”

Mr. Philotheos thanked the archbishop of America for the visit and the joint liturgy and emphasized that everyone’s prayers accompany him and the Greeks of the Diaspora, “the holy clergy of America but also for its flock, the diaspora, which is under the umbrella and the blessing of the Ecumenical Patriarchate”.

The archbishop of America expressed his joy for his visit to Thessaloniki, saying: “It is a great joy and emotion that we are in Thessaloniki, in the historical capital of the beloved Macedonia, for which Hellenism of the Diaspora and especially its Diaspora has fought so hard for America”.

He also revealed an incident that determined his later life and course, saying that thirty years ago, in the same church, of Agios Gregorios Palamas, he attended as a lay theologian the mass held by the late Metropolitan of Thessaloniki Panteleimon II and he was a deacon at the time today’s father Benedict from Cyprus, who happened to be in the temple again today. He revealed, therefore, that on that day he made the great decision to walk in the footsteps of the priesthood. “I made the decision, in this temple, to become a celibate priest thirty years ago and to return to Constantinople and serve the Patriarch,” he said.

Mr. Elpidophoros praised the personality of the new Metropolitan Philotheu and described his election as “successful” and “excellent”. “The young man can be seen by his footprint. From the first moment he showed that he has the gravity, seriousness and historical consciousness and can serve the throne worthy of his predecessors and especially of the immediate predecessor of Mr. Anthimos, who honors us with his discreet presence, wish and blessing”.