Bishop Demetrios attends 2016 Illinois Governor’s Prayer Breakfast
Bishop Demetrios Hosts Table of Ten Guests
SPRINGFIELD, IL: Today, the Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, was among the honored guests at the 2016 Illinois Governor’s Prayer Breakfast held at the Executive Mansion in Springfield, Illinois.
Bishop Demetrios was invited to this event and given a table of ten at this gathering by the Governor’s Office because of his long record of leadership within interfaith organizations throughout the State of Illinois.
Bishop Demetrios was honored to have joining him at this event as his guests the Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield; Pastor John Rothfusz of Faith Lutheran Church in Washington; Rabbi Michael Datz of the Temple B’rith Sholom and the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Springfield Jewish Federation; and, Father George Pyle of St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church in Springfield.
Additionally, he was proud to be joined by John M. Liston, the Executive Director of Serra International; Hakan Berberoglu, the Executive Director of the Niagara Foundation of the Muslim community; and Robert J. Sweiss, the Chicago Chapter Co-Chairman of In Defense of Christians (IDC). Finally two staff members of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago accompanied the Chancellor: Director of Media Relations, John C. Ackerman, and the new Registrar and Executive Aide to Bishop Demetrios, William Kallas.
On his thoughts of the Illinois Governor’s Prayer Breakfast, Bishop Demetrios said “I am grateful to Governor Rauner for continuing this venerable tradition of bringing the leadership of the Faith Community and State Government officials together in prayer for the welfare of our state and communities.”
After the Prayer Breakfast, Bishop Demetrios was given a private tour of the Executive Mansion arranged by the Governor’s Staff and also met privately with Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner.