Photo by Craig Howell Michael and Robin Psaros stand with His All-Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch, during his visit to Weirton Wednesday. The Ecumenical Patriarch, who is the spiritual leader of the Orthodox Christian faith, spent part of the day in Weirton as part of his apostolic visit to the United States.

WEIRTON — The community was blessed Wednesday by a special visitor.

As part of his Apostolic Visit to the United States this week, His All-Holiness Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch, the primary spiritual leader of the Orthodox Christian world, was welcomed to Weirton on Wednesday afternoon, with a tour of Evyenia’s House of Hope and a Doxology service and meal at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church.

The visit was made possible through the efforts of Weirton native Michael Psaros, who is an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarch, Order of St. Andrew, serving on its national council.

“This is a historic day,” Psaros said. “This is a day that will be remembered for 100 years.”

The visit also included Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.

Psaros noted it is a humbling experience to host the Ecumenical Patriarch in his hometown, and to showcase the home once owned by his grandparents and discuss its purpose in the community.

Located at 3217 Orchard St., the house was purchased in the 1930s by Harilaos and Evyenia Loufaki and became a home for them and their three daughters, as well as a place to hand down lessons and traditions to future generations.

In 2015, Psaros decided to donate the home to the Weirton Christian Center, which named it in honor of Psaros’ grandmother and set the home for a new mission, working to repair the broken bonds of area families in need. The House of Hope provides an area for supervised visitation, as well as space for counseling services and life skill classes. It provides office space for Catholic Charities of West Virginia and the Upper Ohio Valley Sexual Assault Help Center.

“This is one of the greatest days in the state of West Virginia,” Psaros said.

Following the service at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, guests gathered in the fellowship hall for a luncheon, welcomed by the Rev. Frank Milanese, and Nick Tranto, president of the parish council.

“We are honored and humbled to welcome you today,” Tranto said.

Tranto, the Psaros family and other church representatives also announced several endowments and gifts to continue support of both All Saints and the Orthodox Church around the world.

The Ecumenical Patriarch offered his own thanks for the hospitality shown Wednesday, and encouraged such connections to continue, through conversation and cooperation.

“Such generosity is worthy of the city, Weirton, which has steel as its backbone,” he said.

In addition to the afternoon in Weirton, the Apostolic Visit will include events at the University of Notre Dame, New York City and Washington, D.C., including a meeting earlier this week with President Joe Biden.