Metropolitan Athenagoras Enthroned as Metropolitan of New Jersey

Metropolitan Athenagoras was enthroned as Metropolitan of New Jersey on November 7 at the Cathedral of St. John the Theologian in Tenafly, New Jersey. The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected him on October 1, 2026, while he was serving as Bishop of Nazianzos. The election followed the elevation of Metropolitan Apostolos to Archbishop of Canada.

Video from the service shows the congregation chanting repeatedly in Spanish and Greek: "Acción, acción, acción. Señor ten piedad, ten piedad, ten piedad. Kirieleison, kirieleison, kirieleison. ven, ven, ven, ven." The canonical election of the new ruling hierarch for the God-saved Metropolis of New Jersey was then proclaimed.

The people responded with the triple acclamation "Axios, axios, axios." A speaker addressed the newly elected hierarch, saying, "I want to hear your stories, share your worries and rejoice in what you have done. You have accomplished." The enthronement marks the beginning of Metropolitan Athenagoras's leadership of the Metropolis of New Jersey under the Ecumenical Patriarchate.