ABERNETHY: The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the largest of several branches of Christian Orthodoxy in the U.S., has a new leader, 71-year-old Archbishop Demetrios, a Greek-born cleric who studied and taught at Harvard. He was officially installed in New York last weekend and now takes up the work of addressing the deep divisions that have plagued the church in recent years. Kim Lawton had the first television interview with Archbishop Demetrios.

KIM LAWTON: In a ceremony nearly as ancient as the faith itself, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America enthroned its new archbishop, Demetrios, to be the spiritual shepherd of America's more than 1.5 million Greek Orthodox Christians.

Archbishop DEMETRIOS (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America): This is a march of a dynamic faith, of an unlimited love, and of an unbreakable unity.

LAWTON: But the new archbishop knows well how difficult it's been to maintain love and unity. His predecessor, Archbishop Spyridon, resigned under pressure last month after only three years on the job. During his tenure, the church was rocked by divisions over his personnel and administrative decisions. Critics called Spyridon autocratic and fiscally irresponsible. Church historian Andrew Walsh says Demetrios has a difficult task ahead.

Mr. ANDREW WALSH (Trinity College, Hartford): A lot of people have been fighting with each other and very publicly, but also privately. And so he's got to work with a limited number of people who must get the work together. And because a lot of blood has been -- metaphorical blood has been shed, that's really tough.

Archbishop DEMETRIOS: It is a challenge, no doubt about that. But quite frankly -- and I'm, here I'm not using an optimism of a clergyman. I'm using the very critical eye of academician. And I see that this healing process is much easier than it appears at first look.