[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 75 (Thursday, June 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1113]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING REV. GEORGE PAPAIONNOU ON HIS APPOINTMENT TO THE RANKS OF 
                                 BISHOP

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 11, 1998

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to congratulate my 
constituent, Father George Papaionnou, on his appointment to the ranks 
of Bishop, the highest office in the Greek Orthodox Church. Father 
George of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Bethesda, Maryland honors 
not only the Greek-Americans and native Greeks in Montgomery County, 
Maryland, but all of our community members. The Eighth District of 
Maryland celebrates his twenty-seven years of leadership at St. 
George's Church, a parish known throughout the Archdiocese for its 
unique services to Greek adults and children with severe medical 
problems. Under Father George's supportive direction, St. George's has 
initiated community projects such as the construction of a school 
building, a gymnasium, and other buildings. Montgomery County is truly 
in his debt.
  The legacy of caring which Bishop-Elect Papaionnou established 
propelled him into the Church's higher ranks as the first married 
Bishop of the Greek Orthdox Church in America. Married priests compose 
the overwhelming majority of parish priests, but are usually restricted 
from the ranks of Bishop. ``While it [the appointment of married 
priests] has been accepted in theory for centuries, it was rarely put 
into practice,'' Father George said. However, the death of Father 
George's wife, Maria, in 1993 made the Bishop technically eligible to 
ascend the Church's hierarchy. Montgomery County is especially proud of 
Father George's promotion because it marks such a historic event.
  Father George joined St. George's in Bethesda after serving the 
Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary in Istanbul; St. 
Demetrios in Hamilton, Ontario; and St. George in Manchester, New 
Hampshire. He will be consecrated into the Episcopate at St. George's 
in Bethesda on Saturday. The Bishop-Elect will initially serve as an 
auxiliary Bishop while he awaits formal assignment to a diocese or 
other responsibility. Father George 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. The Eighth 
District of Maryland joins the nation in celebrating George 
Papaionnou's achievements. I wish Father George all the best as he 
assumes these new challenges.

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