Metropolis of Eleftheroupolis
The Metropolis of Eleftheroupolis is one of the metropolises of the New Lands in Greece that are within the jurisdiction of the Church of Constantinople but de facto are administered for practical reasons as part of the Church of Greece under an agreement between the churches of Athens and Constantinople. The metropolis is located in northern Greece.
History
It is still unknown when this metropolis was founded, but in an 1886 record by Stylianos Mertzidis there is a reference to an 8th century episcopal throne. Another citation is made in the Vatican library (I.D. Mansi Sanctorum Conciliorum nova et amblissima collection, Vol. XVIIA pp. 373-3760), which has information that under the Patriarch Photios, in the year 879 AD, he and Metropolitan Theodoros of Eleftheroupolis participated in the Eighth Ecumenical Council which was held in Constantinople.
Metropolitan of Eleftheroupolis
The current metropolitan is His Eminence Chrysostomos (Avagiannos) of Eleftheroupolis who was born in 1947 at Mesagron, on the island of Lesvos. He was consecrated Bishop of Eleftheroupolis on April 26, 2004.
Former hierarchs
- Theodoros (879)
- George (11th century)
- Nikandros (1351)
- Sophronios I (1580)
- Damianos (1615)
- Parthenios (1624)
- Gerasimos (January 21, 1766 – September 1787)
- Timothy (September 1787 – August 1790)
- Paisios (February 1808 – January 1814)
- Joseph (Zambelis) (January 8, 1814 – August 1826)
Sources
- The Metropolis of Eleftheroupolis Official website (Greek)
- Church of Greece website (Greek and English)
- Election of Metropolitans of Thessaloniki, Eleftheroupolis, Servia and Kozani, and Mesogaia and Lavreotiki
- Athens News Agency: News in English, 04-04-27 (08)
