Metropolis of Nikopolis and Preveza

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The Metropolis of Nikopolis and Preveza is one of the metropolises of the New Lands in Greece that is under the jurisdiction of the Church of Constantinople but de facto is administered for practical reasons as part of the Church of Greece under an agreement between the churches of Athens and Constantinople. [1]

The metropolis is located in Epirus in northwestern Greece.

History

The city of Nicopolis was founded by Augustus, then Octavian, in 31 BC as a monument to his victory over Anthony and Cleopatra. Around 63, apostle Paul planned to spend the winter at Nicopolis where, in his Epistle to Titus, he invited Titus to join him from Crete (Titus 3:12). Around 180, the future bishop of Rome, Eleutherius was born in Nicopolis. During the time of Roman emperors Diocletain and Constantine, a bishopric is believed to have existed in Nicopolis as the metropolitan city of province of Epirus Vetus. Eusebius of Caesarea noted that bishops from Epirus attended the First Ecumenical Council in Nicea. The first mention of a bishop of Nicopolis by the name, Isidoros, appeared in the Acts of the Council of Serdica in 343. w: Nicopolis

Around 460, a five-aisle basilica, the first of six basilicas that were to be built, was built in Nicopolis. However, during the course of the Middle Ages (c.800) the ancient site of Nicopolis decayed and was supplanted by the town of Preveza a few miles to the south. The metropolitan's see was then transferred to Naupactus.

Metropolitan

His Eminence Metropolitan Meletios (Kalamaras) was born in 1933 in Alagonia, Messinia. He was consecrated a bishop on March 1,1980.

Former hierarchs

  • Anastasius c.787 Attended the Seventh Ecumenical Council
  • Hypatios c. 625
  • Doumetios II c. 575
  • Doumetios I c. 550
  • Ioannis 516- ?
  • Alkison 491-516 Martyred
  • Eugenios c. 457-458
  • Attikos c. 451
  • St. Donatos c. 425-432
  • Isidoros c. 343

Monasteries in the metropolis

  • Monastery of Prophet Elias in Iliovounia For men[2]
  • Monastery of Holy Trinity in Lekatsa For men[3]
  • Monastery of St. Dimitrios in Zalogo For women

Sources

External link