Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Upper Darby marked its patronal feast day on Sunday, October 26, 2025, welcoming His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey for a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. For the parish, it was not only a day to honor its patron saint but also a day of new beginnings within the Greek American community of the Philadelphia region.
Clergy from nearby parishes joined Metropolitan Apostolos in the sanctuary, and the pews filled early with parish leaders, Archons, families, and visitors who traveled from across the Delaware Valley. The morning carried the familiar rhythm of Saint Demetrios Day, although this year the service held a particular sense of anticipation. Along with the feast day observance, the community would witness the ordination of Archdeacon Konstantinos Loukas to the priesthood.
As the liturgy progressed, Archdeacon Konstantinos stood before the altar surrounded by clergy and embraced by the prayers of those who had known him in his ministry as a deacon. He was ordained to the diaconate in 2022, and on this day, he stepped into his calling as a priest in the same church where many have seen him serve. His family watched from the front rows, and members of the parish looked on quietly as he was vested and welcomed into this next chapter of his service to the Church.
The day also included the administration of the oath of office to newly elected officers and board members of the Federation of Hellenic American Societies of Philadelphia and Delaware Valley. These individuals will represent and coordinate the work of Greek American organizations in the year ahead. Officers of the Philoptochos Society likewise took the oath of office, affirming their work in support of those in need throughout the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
After the liturgy concluded, the parish community gathered to greet Father Konstantinos and offer their wishes for strength and good ministry. There were handshakes, brief personal moments, and photographs taken in the glow of a day that held both tradition and transition.
For Saint Demetrios Church, the feast day served as a reminder of the long life of the parish and the continuity of its religious and cultural presence in the area. The ordination, the oaths, and the collective prayers reflected a community that honors its past while preparing new leaders who will carry the work forward.
Watch the Service
Cosmos Philly streamed the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy live from Saint Demetrios. The full video from the feast day observance, including the ordination of Father Konstantinos Loukas and the oath of office for community leaders, is available below.
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