Often, Christmas is associated with giving and receiving physical gifts. However, the more meaningful aspect of the season is receiving immaterial gifts. For this reason, events like Christmas Unwrapped are the best way to kick off the season.
Christmas Unwrapped
According to their events page, the Metropolis of San Francisco Greek Orthodox will be organizing a three-part event called Christmas Unwrapped. Christmas theology, history, and traditions will be covered in this three-part series.
Additionally, the post said that Rev. Father Angelo Maginas, Assistant Priest at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Cardiff by the Sea, California, will preside over the event. Joiners can register using this link.
The first session is scheduled to happen on Nov. 29. The second session is on Dec. 6, while the final session will occur on Dec. 13. Each session will last an hour from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. PST via Zoom.
Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco
According to their page, the Diocese of San Francisco has become one of the essential aspects of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America since its founding in 1927. It provided care for the Greek Orthodox devout and fostered growth in the Western United States.
Moreover, the page said that renowned Bishops had governed the Greek Orthodox Church in the West since its inception. Bishops of San Francisco were +Bishop Eirinaios (Tsourounakis 1941-1944) and +Bishop Kallistos (Papageorgapoulos 1927-1940).
Furthermore, the page stated that Titular Bishops of Elaia, Olympus, and Christianoupolis, respectively, were +Bishop Athenagoras (Kokkinakis 1950-1955), +Bishop Meletios (Tripodakis 1968-1979), and +Bishop Demetrios (Makris 1955-1968).
The page stated that the appointment of +Bishop Anthony (Gergiannakis, 1979-2004) corresponded with the Archdiocese's canonical reform in 1979. He was inaugurated as Bishop of San Francisco on Jun. 7, 1979, after serving as Titular Bishop of Amissos for a year in the Diocese of Denver.
In addition, the same page mentioned that The Ecumenical Patriarchate's Holy and Sacred Synod named +His Grace Bishop Anthony as Metropolitan of the Dardanelles and Exarch of the entire Hellespont on Nov. 24, 1997.
The page also said that the Diocese of San Francisco was designated as the Holy Metropolis of San Francisco in September 2002. At the same time, +Metropolitan Anthony, of blessed memory, was appointed Metropolitan of San Francisco.
It also mentioned that The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople appointed His Eminence Gerasimos, previously Bishop of Krateia, as Metropolitan of San Francisco shortly after the death of +Metropolitan Anthony on Dec. 25, 2004.
The page also said that The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco is in the authority of 67 parishes throughout the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America's western region. This is also under the spiritual direction and supervision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Furthermore, it mentioned that in California, Alaska, Arizona, Oregon, Hawaii, Nevada, and Washington, His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos shepherds nearly 150,000 Greek Orthodox believers. Under His Eminence's guidance, The Metropolis sustains the ministries and activity of local parishes and supports both clergy and people through the parish's life.
Today, according to the page, the Metropolis has established thirteen different Ministries to help the unique demands of its parishes. These include spiritual and educational activities to preserve and perpetuate the Orthodox faith and Hellenic heritage. They also have social and outreach activities to sustain domestic and international communities.
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