The Holy and Sacred Synod convened today, the 22nd of February, as scheduled. During this session:
i.The Holy and Sacred Synod elected His Grace, Bishop Gerasimos of Krateia as the new Metropolitan of San Fransisco;
ii.His Eminence, Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia offered his resignation from the position of the Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod due to health reasons. He will, however, continue with fulfilling his other responsibilities in the Patriarchate, such as being the President of the Legal Counsel, the President of the Committee for the Renovation and Beautification of churches and charitable Institutions, and as member of various other Committees.

The Holy and Sacred Synod accepted the resignation of His Eminence, the Acting Chief Secretary. His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed to him extreme gratification for the loyalty, devotion and fruitful services that His Eminence had offered for more than 18 years from this very responsible Ecclesiastical position. Furthermore, His All Holiness decided to appoint His Eminence, Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia as Coordinator of the various Secretariats of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The vacant position of the Chief Secretary was then offered to the Deputy Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Deacon Elpidophoros Lambriniadis, who was promoted to Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod. Deacon Elpidophoros, who has shown an impeccable ministry during his service in the Holy Deaconate, will be ordained a Priest on the Sunday of Orthodoxy. The following clergy were also promoted:
The Rev. Archimandrite Bartholomaios Samaras was promoted to Deputy Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod;
The Secondary (Deutereuon) Deacon Stefanos was promoted to Grand Archdeacon;
The Codicographer Maximos was promoted to Secondary (Deutereuon) Deacon;
The Patriarchal Deacon Andreas Sophianopoulos was promoted to Tertiary (Triteuon) Deacon, and
The Patriarchal Deacon Neophytos Mandalos was promoted to Deacon of the Line (Tis Seiras).

In the Patriarchate, 22nd February 2005
From the Chief Secretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod.