From March 6 to 23, with the blessing of His All-Holiness our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the canonical permission of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Metropolitan Ambrosios of Korea and Exarch of Japan visited the Holy Metropolis of Chicago at the invitation of its local hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Nathaniel of Chicago.

The primary purpose of the visit was his participation as the main speaker at the annual event of the Saints Apostles community (Westchester, IL) titled “Celebration of Books.” There, after the Lenten Vespers on Sunday, March 8, he spoke on the theme: “Kenosis and Orthodox Witness.” Also at the same location, on the evening of Tuesday, March 10, Deacon Perry Hamalis spoke about the mission work of the Orthodox Metropolis of Korea and Exarchate of Japan in spreading Orthodox witness, followed by a question-and-answer session addressed by Metropolitan Ambrosios.

In addition to the aforementioned event, Metropolitan Ambrosios presided over Holy Services and Divine Liturgies, assisted by Deacon Perry, preached the divine word, and subsequently gave informative talks in the community halls showing a relevant video and PowerPoint presentation on the spread of Orthodox witness in Korea and Japan, as follows:

1. March 6, 2026: Community of Saint John the Baptist (Des Plaines, IL) – Second Salutations to the Theotokos.
2. March 8, 2026: Community of the Holy Apostles (Westchester, IL) – Orthros and Divine Liturgy.
3. March 10, 2026: Community of the Assumption (Chicago, IL) – Talk at the Chicago Clergy Syndesmos of the Holy Metropolis of Chicago on the topic: “Can the 21st Century be the Century of Orthodoxy?”
4. March 11, 2026: Community of Saint Spyridon (Palos Heights, IL) – Pre-Sanctified Liturgy.
5. March 13, 2026: Community of the Assumption (Town & Country, MO) – Third Salutations to the Theotokos.
6. March 14, 2026: OCMC St. Louis Retreat at St. Nicholas Family Life Center (St. Louis, MO) and meeting with the members of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis OCMC committee.
7. March 14, 2026: Community of Saints Constantine and Helen (Swansea, IL) – Great Vespers.
8. March 15, 2026: Community of Saint Nicholas (St. Louis, MO) – Orthros and Divine Liturgy.
9. March 20, 2026: Community of the Holy Trinity (Egg Harbor, NJ) – Fourth Salutations to the Theotokos.
10. March 21, 2026: Community of Saint Barbara (Toms River, NJ) – Great Vespers.
11. March 22, 2026: Community of the Resurrection of Christ (Brookville, NY) – Orthros and Divine Liturgy. After the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Metropolitan of Korea had the special joy and honor to meet and converse with the former Archbishop of America, His Eminence Demetrios.

Also, Metropolitan Ambrosios visited their headquarters His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, His Eminence Metropolitan Nathaniel of Chicago, and His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey in order to thank them for their kind permission to visit their provinces.

In every community he visited, he conveyed to the faithful the paternal love and the venerable patriarchal blessings of His All-Holiness our Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

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