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WHEREAS, after 32 years of service to the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Pittsburgh, His Eminence, Metropolitan Maximos is retiring; and
WHEREAS, in April, 1979 Maximos was seated as the first Bishop of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, he was born on the Greek isle of Chios in 1935 and emigrated to the United States in 1966 where he was appointed Professor of Systematic Theology at the Holy Cross School of Theology in Massachusetts; and
WHEREAS, in 1992, together with John Rangos, Sr. and other business and church leaders, Maximos established what became known as the IOCC - the International Orthodox Christian Charities - a humanitarian aid agency comprised of Orthodox Christians, having to date administered over $300 million in international aid for humanitarian relief, sustainable development, and self-help programs throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, in his role as Bishop of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Pittsburgh he ministered to 52 parishes throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia and established a Diocesan newsletter, The Illuminator, which is distributed to over 13,000 households; and
WHEREAS, he has been an active participant in numerous organizations such as the National Council of Churches, World Council of Churches, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia Council of Churches, and Christian Associates of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize His Eminence Metropolitan Maximos for his years of service and dedication as Bishop of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Pittsburgh; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare November 5, 2011 to be "His Eminence Metropolitan Maximos Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.