NEW YORK - Bishop George (Papaioannou) of Komanon was ordained by Archbishop Spyridon to the episcopacy at St. George Church, Bethesda, MD on Saturday, June 13.

He is the first bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church in America to come from the ranks of married priests, who make up the overwhelming majority of parish pastors.

"This is an historic event, for a bishop to come from the ranks of the married clergy," Bishop George said. "While it has been accepted in theory for centuries, it was very rarely put into practice, especially in Greek- speaking Orthodoxy.

"The credit for this action belongs exclusively to His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew, who has showed with this election that he does not hesitate to open new paths to extend the services of the church, to widen the church's vision.'

Bishop George, 65, a native of Prodromos, Thebes and a 1957 graduate of the Theological School of Halki (Constantinople), has been a priest of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese since 1958, the last 27 years at St. George Church. A widower, Bishop George and his late Presbytera Maria, have three married daughters and six grandchildren.

The Formal Election Announcement (Mega Minima) was read on Thursday, June 11, in the Chapel of St. Paul at the Archdiocese. Preceding the service, Archbishop Spyridon elevated Father George to the dignity of Archimandrite.

Participating with Archbishop Spyridon in the ordination were Met ropolitan Silas of Saranta Ecclesiai, Metropolitan Maximos of Aenos, Presiding Hierarch of the Diocese of Pittsburgh; Metropolitan Methodios of Aneon, Presiding Hierarch of the Diocese of Boston and Bishops Philotheos of Meloa, Kallistos Ware of Diocleia and Vikentios of A pamia.

On Sunday, June 14. Bishop George assisted Archbishop Spyri don in the consecration of the Church of St. George.

He will be known officially as Bishop George of Komanon, the place in Armenia where St. John Chrysostom, one of the most revered Patriarchs of Constantinople, died. St. John was an outspoken advocate of the inclusive Christian Church, welcoming not just those who "toiled from the first hour," but those who "arrived only at the 11th hour; for the

Lord is gracious and receiveth the last even as the first." St. John died in exile in Komanon for "refusing to abandon the principles of faith and ethics," Bishop George said.

Bishop George for 12 years has written the "Tell Me, Father" column in The Orthodox Observer, the offi cial publication of the Church in America. In this column, where he responds to letters from Orthodox faithful, he has urged compassion and common sense as guides to en forcing Church dogma and policies.

Long known for being outspoken, his comments in his column, speech es lectures and other writings have on occasion been seen by some in the Church as implied criticism of those who follow more rigid, narrow inter pretations of Church dogma and policies.

"I am outspoken, I am candid. I have compassion. I feel rather un comfortable as a clergyman seeing abuses of wealth, and of power." He said, "Whenever I have said or writ ten something which might be inter preted as criticism, it has been with some pain. I take no joy in disagree ing with my fellow clergy, and more especially with my superiors. But I have never sought acceptance or approval of my views."

from The Hellenic Chronicle (Boston)

June 24, 1998