Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Monday, March 29, 1999

Release #099-99

Contact: Colleen Roche/Jennifer Chait (212) 788-2958


MAYOR GIULIANI SIGNS BILL THAT ADDS THE NAME THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHS' WAY TO 23RD AVENUE BETWEEN 36TH AND 37TH STREETS IN QUEENS

Remarks By Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani At Public Hearing On Local Laws

The bill before me today, Introductory Number 449, sponsored by Speaker Vallone and eight of his colleagues, would add, through the posting of an additional sign, the name, "The Ecumenical Patriarchs' Way," to 23rd Avenue between 36th and 37th Streets, in Queens.

At this location stands the Sacred Patriarchal Monastery of Saint Irene. This Greek Orthodox Monastery was proclaimed as one of the Sacred Patriarchal Monasteries of the Ecumenical Throne by a decision of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on April 7, 1998. The Monastery is under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in accordance with the blessing given by His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon of America.

The wave of Greek immigration to America greatly increased at the beginning of the 20th century, and created the need for new churches and organizations. By the year 1916, there were already 59 churches. In 1918, the Archbishop of Greece visited America to organize the Greek Orthodox Church in the United States. Following his election to the Patriarchal Throne, the Archbishop issued the Tomos of May 17, 1922 through which the Greek Orthodox Church in the Americas was proclaimed the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America.

Because of the vast contributions made by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese to the Astoria community, it is fitting that this bill would add, through the posting of an additional sign, the name "Ecumenical Patriarchs' Way," to 23rd Avenue between 36th and 37th Streets in Queens.

For the reasons previously stated, I will now sign the bill.

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