East Meadow, NY — On Thursday, September 25, 2025, fourteen clergy and lay representatives gathered at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in East Meadow, Long Island, for the inaugural meeting of the Long Island Inter‑Parish Association (IPA). The meeting was led by Spryridoula Fotinis, Director of Inter‑Parish Associations for the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA.

His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, joined the gathering and exhorted all present to embrace the bold vision of a united Orthodox Church in America. He emphasized that an Inter‑Parish Association is a foundational grassroots effort toward that unity, inviting clergy and laity alike to engage actively in this local expression of Orthodox unity.

Inter‑Parish Associations (IPAs), a ministry of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA, are designed to foster communication, camaraderie, and cooperation across Orthodox Christian parishes of different jurisdictions within a geographical region. By bringing together clergy and laity locally, IPAs aim to dismantle jurisdictional barriers, promote joint witness, and share Christ’s love more broadly.