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When he assumed his new position on [[February 24]], 1931, Athenagoras was faced with the task of bringing unity and harmony to a diocese that was racked with dissension between Royalists and Venizelists who had virtually divided the country into independent dioceses. To correct this he centralized the eccelesiastical administration in the Archdiocesean offices with all other bishops serving as auxiliaries, appointed to assist the archbishop, without dioceses and administrative rights of their own.
During his 18-year tenure, he actively worked with his communities to facilitate these reforms, in part by expanding the work of the clergy-laity congresses. He established the women’s [[Philoptochos]], the philanthropic arm of the Church, as well as an orphanage, [[St. Basil Academy (Garrison, New York)|St. Basil’s Academy]]. He also founded the first Greek Orthodox seminary in America, the [[Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Holy Cross School of Theology]]. His capable leadership allowed him to withstand the early opposition he faced and eventually gain the love and devotion of his flock.
==Patriarchate==
