Official Dates

Clergy-Laity/Philoptochos: June 30 - July 4,1996 Young Adult League: June 27 - July 1,1996

Locations

The New York Hilton & Towers, 1335 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019. Phone (212) 586 7000, fax (212) 315-1374.

Hotel Reservations

Reservations may be made by calling the Hilton directly at 1-800 HILTONS

Please identify yourself as a Clergy-Laity Attendee. To assure discount rates, reservations must be made prior to May 15,1996 Rooms at the Hilton are $143.00 for both single and double occupancy. This rate does not include a 13.25% city and state tax plus a $2.00 occupancy tax per day. Rooms in the Towers are $165+++.

Hotel Guest Rooms

There are over 2,000 sleeping rooms at the New York Hilton. All rooms have been recently redecorated and have hairdryers, irons, ironing boards, coffee makers, refreshment centers, voice mail and Dataports. The Towers is a separate hotel within-a hotel. Towers guests check in at the Towers Reception on the 39th floor, enjoy complimentary continental breakfast, afternoon tea and hors d'oeuvres in the private Towers lounge. Every Towers guest room has a fax machine and a computer data port, two telephones with two lines, and an in-room safe.

Services for the Disabled
Forty-seven guest rooms and public areas have been equipped especially to accommodate guests in wheelchairs. There are also 83 guest rooms designed to accommodate the hearing impaired, and public telephones are equipped with amplified headsets. Rooms occupied by the disabled are flagged so that their room location is immediately known in the event of an emergency.

Please make your reservations early and note your specific requirements if you are disabled and need special attention and/or equipment.

Fitness Center

The Hilton has a state-of-the-art fitness facility with the latest equipment, located on the fourth floor. The Fitness Center offers also one-to-one training, saunas and massage therapy.

Business Center
The Business Center located on the fourth floor, provides secretarial service, computer workstations, computer, fax and typewriter rental.

Theatre Tickets
Broadway's sizzle and stature lures audiences and famous talent from around the world, but the same is true for off broadway venues. Please visit the theatre ticket booth in the lobby of the Hilton from which you can obtain theatre reservations. Upon receipt of your registration application we will furnish you with a listing of the major shows playing in New York during the week of the Congress.

Tours & Sightseeing
The Big Apple is filled with inter nationally-recognizable sights and attractions. To sample them we suggest you visit the American Express Travel Desk on the Lobby Level of the New York Hilton.

 

Travel Arrangments

Rex Travel Agency, our official Congress travel agency, is offering exclusive discounts to all Congress participants on both Delta and American Airlines, the official airlines for the 33rd Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress. To take advantage of these savings negotiated on your behalf, call the Clergy-Laity Travel Desk at 1-800-233-0460. Rex guarantees to offer the lowest available airfare to all Congress attendees. If you prefer to make your own reservation direct or thru your travel professional please follow the following:

Delta Airlines
Call the Delta Travel Desk at 1-800 241-6760 (8:00AM - 11 :OO PM EST). Please refer to file number N1532. Applicable restrictions must be met. Seats are limited.

American Airlines

Call the American Airlines Meeting Service Desk at 1-800-433-1790 and refer to the Star File Number S 9166MA.

Arriving in New York

Getting to and from New York City is quick and easy with over 2,000 daily flights into the Big Apple's two major airports.

From JFK International
15 miles,50-60 minutes travel time. Yellow Cab: $30.00-40.00 Shuttle Service: $15.00

From Laguardia Airport
8 miles, 30-40 minutes Yellow Cab: $20.00-25.00
Shuttle Service: $12.00

Parking

If you drive to New York, the Hilton Hotel and Towers has in-house parking available for over night guests and visitors. The cost is $30.00 per night (subject to change.)

 

Congress Activity

Registration

The registration fee for the 33rd Biennial Clergy Laity Congress will be $425.00 per person and shall include all Congress meal functions (Key note Address, Opening Breakfast Philoptochos Luncheon and Grand Banquet), social events, transportation and entrance to all outside religious events, admission to all forums and workshops, The Congress Album, Registration packet, and all related Congress materials.

Registration Deadline

May 1,1996. (After this date, there will be a late charge of $25)

Registration Hours
Saturday, June 29 9:00AM - 5:00 PM Sunday, June 30 1:OOPM - 9:00 PM Monday, July 1 8:00AM - 9:00 PM Tuesday, July 2 8:00AM - 12:00 PM The registration fee for Presbyteres not representing their community is $225. The registration fee for all Retired Clergy and Retired Presbyteres has been waived. Registration Chairperson: Demi Brountzas (212) 757-4255

Hospitality

We anticipate and are planning for one of the largest Clergy-Laity Congresses in the history of our Church. The way the Host Committee greets each delegate, guest or VIP is reflective on our Archdiocese. The Welcome mat will be out for all those attending this historical Congress. Hospitality Chairman: Rev. Demetrios Recachinas (203) 374-5561. VIP Hospitality: Pauline Kotsilimbas.

Exhibit Hall
During the duration of the 33rd Clergy-Laity Congress, the Rhine lander Gallery of the Hilton Hotel will be transformed into an exhibit area where approximately 100 purveyors from throughout the world will be able to display their "products" to the over 10,000 visitors who will be participating in the Congress. These "religious products" range from traditional icons and ecclesiastical vessels to computer software for use within the local parish. It is an opportunity to network with individuals who represent every facet of the local and national Church and to identify sources for items or services for every conceivable religious need. Chairperson: Rev. Nicholas Soteropoulos (718) 291-2420.

Diocese Receptions

His Eminence will host separate receptions for the delegates of each Diocese during the week of the Congress in order that he may thank each for their dedicated service to our Church.

Religious Activity
The highlight of the week will be the Divine Liturgy which will be celebrated on Central Park on Sunday, June 30 at 9:00AM. Transportation will be provided. Chairperson: Very Rev. Eugene Pappas (718) 339-0280. The daily Divine Liturgy will also be celebrated from 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM (Monday-Wednesday) in the Mercury Ballroom (3rd Floor.) The Congress Chapel will be set up in the Rendezvous Trianon Room (3rd Floor) from Friday, June 28 Thursday, July 4. Chairperson: Rev. Nicholas Anctil (718) 494-0658. The Congress 4th of July Doxology will be celebrated on Thursday, July 4 at Holy Trinity Cathedral,319 E.74th Street, New York, NY. Chairpeople: Rev. Robert Stephanopoulos, James Costaras (212) 288-3215.

 

Forums & Workshops

The theme of this year's Congress is “Let us go forward on the road that has brought us to where we are” and the FORUMS AND WORKSHOPS will expound upon this biblical quote which is His Eminence's exhortation to us as we prepare to march into the 3rd Millennium. Distinguished speakers from throughout our Church in the Americas have been invited to share their thoughts and experiences with the delegates. The intent is to empower the attendees so that they may return to their home parishes not only renewed spiritually but ready and able to assist their parish priest in implementing new programs and ideas that will help our faithful meet the challenges of the next millennium. To accomplish this task, we as Orthodox Christians must be familiar with the Tradition of the Church, i.e., "the road that has brought us to where we are" so that with boldness and without fear we may "go forward".

Meal Functions

The following food and beverage events have been scheduled and are part of the delegate packet.

Opening Breakfast

- Monday, July 1

Philoptochos Luncheon

-Tues., July 2

Clergy & Family Dinner with His Eminence

- Thursday, July 4th (clergy only)

Grand Banquet

- Wednesday, July 3

 

Congress Albums

A special hardbound commemorative volume will be a salute to the ministry of His Eminence Archbishop lakovos. The hard bound volume will include messages from national and world religious, political and civic leaders, personal essays reflecting the accomplishments of the Archdiocese under the spiritual guidance of His Eminence and a narrative history of the Archdiocese with extensive use of photos and graphics. Additionally, the format will be changed. The book will not include advertising as such, rather sponsors that will be recognized in specific categories. There will be an opportunity for anyone wishing to honor Archbishop lakovos to do so. Information will be forthcoming.