R 231 |
2019 -- S 0804 Enacted 04/24/2019 |
S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
CELEBRATING THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ENTHRONEMENT OF HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN METHODIOS ON APRIL 8, 1984 |
Introduced By: Senators Raptakis, Gallo, Cano, Euer, and McCaffrey |
Date Introduced: April 23, 2019 |
WHEREAS, On April 8th of 1984, His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios was enthroned |
by His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos as the Bishop of the historic Diocese of Boston, following |
his election to that post by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Phanar, |
Constantinople, Turkey; and |
WHEREAS, The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston includes all of Massachusetts, |
Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont and the Connecticut Towns of Danielson, |
Enfield, New London and Norwich, and consists of 63 parishes which minister to the needs of |
approximately 200,000 Greek Orthodox faithful; and |
WHEREAS, Metropolitan Methodios was born in New York City, the third child of the |
late Stavroula and Vasilios Tournas. He graduated from the Greek Orthodox Cathedral Parochial |
School and the McBurney School, and received a Bachelors' degree from Hellenic College and a |
Bachelor of Divinity Degree from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. He later |
earned a Master of Sacred Theology from Boston University and was awarded Theological |
Accreditation from the University of Thessaloniki, Greece. He was also awarded an Honorary |
Doctor of Divinity Degree from Boston University, an Honorary Degree of Humane Letters from |
the American International College, and an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from his Alma |
Mater, Hellenic College-Holy Cross; and |
WHEREAS, In 1985, beginning his ministries in Boston, Metropolitan Methodios |
oversaw the construction of a magnificent Center which now serves as a focal point of the |
Metropolis in New England, and in 1986, he established the Philoxenia House which offers |
hospitality to patients and their families who have come to Boston from all over the world to |
receive medical treatment; and |
WHEREAS, From July of 1989 through 1995, Bishop Methodios also assumed the |
Presidency of Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in |
Brookline, Massachusetts, and in 1997, he was elevated to the office of Metropolitan; and |
WHEREAS, A renowned theologian, spiritual father, and a man of deep and abiding |
faith, Metropolitan Methodios has been inspired and strives to daily grow and progress the |
Diocese for the glory of Almighty God, to foster close civic and ecumenical ties in the City of |
Boston and throughout the Diocese, and manifest the presence and contribution of Orthodoxy in |
the most positive and meaningful manner; now, therefore be it |
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
hereby celebrates the 35th Anniversary of the Enthronement of His Eminence Metropolitan |
Methodios on April 8, 1984. We moreover wish him many more years of good health and |
spiritual fulfillment; and be it further |
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios, The |
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston. |
======== |
LC002410 |
======== |