In 1974, he initiated a campaign to assist Greek Cypriot refugees following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

In 1994, Iakovos presided over the historic [[Ligonier Meeting]] in western Pennsylvania at which the assembled American Orthodox bishops came together, exppressing their essential unity and denouncing the notion of constituting a "[[diaspora]]." His leadership was strongly influential at this meeting, and it is believed that fears that he was going to have himself declared "Patriarch of America" led to his forced retirement at the age of 85 on [[July 29]], 1996 by Patriarch [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople]].

On [[April 8]], 2005, the archbishop was admitted to the hospital in Stamford, Connecticut, suffering from a pulmonary ailment, and he reposed in the Lord on [[April 10]]. His funeral was on Thursday, [[April 14]], at Holy Trinity Cathedral in New York City, and his burial is scheduled for Friday, [[April 15]], at [[Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology]].

==Other accomplishments==

*Received honorary degrees from 40 colleges and universities

*Improved parish organizations and enhanced roles of the Archdiocesan Council, the Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress, and the Ladies Philoptochos Society

===Regarding his repose===

*[http://www.goarch.org/en/archbishop/iakovos/NewsDetail.asp?id=1337 Special Encyclical: The Falling Asleep in the Lord of Archbishop Iakovos Former Archbishop of North and South America], Archbishop [[Demetrios (Trakatellis) of America]]

*[http://www.goarch.org/en/archbishop/iakovos/NewsDetail.asp?id=1339 Ecumenical Patriarchate announcement on the passing of Archbishop Iakovos]