Archbishop of America meets Greek MP Spyros Koulkoudinas in New York

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America welcomed Spyros Koulkoudinas, a member of the Hellenic Parliament representing Pieria, to the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in Manhattan on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

Their meeting focused on Orthodox faith, Greek heritage, and public service, highlighting the importance of preserving cultural and religious identity while addressing contemporary challenges.

Koulkoudinas, a lawmaker from Greece’s ruling New Democracy party, is visiting New York to participate in the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Parliamentarian Dialogue Program, which runs through October 16. The program explores how parliamentarians can connect the needs of their local communities with international cooperation and global governance.

During the discussion, Koulkoudinas spoke about his family’s roots in Asia Minor and emphasized the role of Orthodox faith and tradition in sustaining Greek communities through displacement and hardship.

The conversation also addressed the personal challenges faced by those serving their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Koulkoudinas, who is a pharmacist, recalled caring for patients while worrying about…