Greek Archbishop sends representative to installation of female Lutheran bishop (+VIDEO)

Somerset, New Jersey, August 27, 2025

On Saturday, August 23, Fr. Nicolas Kazarian represented Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Patriarchate of Constantinople’s Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America at the installation of Bishop Christa Compton as head of the New Jersey Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, according to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.

Fr. Nicolas serves as Ecumenical Officer and Director of the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations for the Greek Archdiocese. He has extensive experience in ecumenical relations, having authored two books and over 60 articles on the Orthodox Church, ecumenical dialogue, interfaith relations, and geopolitics in various languages. He has taught Ecumenical Relations at the Catholic University of Paris and at the Saint Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute. He was recently elected to the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches and serves as co-moderator of Religions for Peace USA.

The Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations cultivates professional relationships with faith-based organizations, academic institutions, and NGOs. It coordinates the ecumenical and interfaith dialogues of the Archdiocese on a national level and manages pan-Orthodox activities through the Office of the Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA.

Bishop Christa was elected to lead the New Jersey Synod on June 7, 2025. She has served as pastor of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Chatham, New Jersey since 2013. The installation service was held at First Baptist Church in Somerset, New Jersey.

According to the site of her parish, “She wants church to be a place of hope for those who have not always found welcome in Christian spaces, including the LGBTQIA+ community.”

The installation service included participation from numerous female clergy who delivered presentations and sermons. The ceremony featured Protestant worship songs and included a liturgical dancer. The service concluded with Bishop Christa celebrating the Lutheran Eucharist. Fr. Nicolas did not participate in the celebration of the service, but attended only as a guest.

​

Follow OrthoChristian on Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe, and Gab!

8/27/2025

See also
GOARCH bishop apologizes for scandalous participation in Hindu interfaith event (+VIDEO) GOARCH bishop apologizes for scandalous participation in Hindu interfaith event (+VIDEO) GOARCH bishop apologizes for scandalous participation in Hindu interfaith event (+VIDEO) GOARCH bishop apologizes for scandalous participation in Hindu interfaith event (+VIDEO)
His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has offered an apology for his participation in an interfaith event at a Hindu temple in New Jersey last year. Patriarch Bartholomew and Russian and Romanian bishops pray in ecumenical service in Rome Patriarch Bartholomew and Russian and Romanian bishops pray in ecumenical service in Rome Patriarch Bartholomew and Russian and Romanian bishops pray in ecumenical service in Rome Patriarch Bartholomew and Russian and Romanian bishops pray in ecumenical service in Rome
The service was held at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli as part of 2020’s “An Encounter of Prayer for Peace in the Spirit of Assisi,” an annual event organized by the lay Catholic community Sant’Egidio. Greek Metropolis of Chicago celebrating Francis of Assissi with ecumenical prayer for creation with Catholics, Protestants Greek Metropolis of Chicago celebrating Francis of Assissi with ecumenical prayer for creation with Catholics, Protestants Greek Metropolis of Chicago celebrating Francis of Assissi with ecumenical prayer for creation with Catholics, Protestants Greek Metropolis of Chicago celebrating Francis of Assissi with ecumenical prayer for creation with Catholics, Protestants
The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, under the rule of Metropolitan Nathanael, will participate in an ecumenical prayer service “for the healing of our planet” on the Catholic feast of Francis of Assissi on Saturday, October 4.

Subscribe
to our mailing list

* indicates required
×