Sevastianos (Skordallos) of Zela

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His Grace, Sevastianos (Skordallos) is the titular Bishop of Zela and Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, under the jurisdiction of the Church of Constantinople.

Life

Sevastianos was born in Ano-Zodia, Cyprus, the first born of three children of Panayiota and Frixos Skordallos. He graduated from the Economic High School in Morphou, Cyprus in 1973 and from the Theological School of the University of Athens, Greece in 1978.

On January 17, 1974, he was ordained a deacon by Metropolitan Chrysanthos (Sariyiannis) of Morphou. As a deacon, he served under Metropolitan Chyrsanthos of Morphou in 1974, at St. George Church in Akadimia Platonos in Athens in 1975, and at St. Nicholas Church in Kato Patisia in Athens from 1976 to 1978.

On March 4, 1978, he was ordained a priest by the Bishop Gregorios of Tropaiou in England. He received the rank of archimandrite from Archbishop Athenagoras of Thyateira.

Bishop Sevastianos continued his education while he served in the clergy. Under a scholarship from the World Council of Churches he studied in the United States at the Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia, from which he received a Th.M. degree in Pastoral Psychology in 1982. From 1980 to 1982, he worked and received an advanced certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education at Caraway Methodist Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama. He continued his studies from 1982 to 1984 in Pastoral Psychology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee and Middle Tennessee State University.

After his ordination as a priest, Father Sevastianos served in Nottingham England from 1978 to 1979). Then, in the United States, he served at Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Church in Birmingham, Alabama from 1980 to 1982), Ss. Constantine and Helen – Holy Cross in Huntsville, Alabama twice, from 1982 to 1984 and from 1989 to 1993). From 1984 to 1988, he returned to Cyprus where he served at the Cathedral of Panayia Catholike in Limassol, Cyprus. After having returned to the United States and served in Huntsville, he went on to serve at Holy Transfiguration Church in Marietta, Georgia from 1993 to 2004 and at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Tarpon Springs, Florida from 2004 to 2006.

On June 1, 2006, Father Sevastianos was appointed Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America by Archbishop Demetrios of America. As its secretary, Fr. Sevastianos, was actively involved in the administration of the American Church in general, and the Archdiocese in particular. He served as a Council member at the Metropolis and Archdiocesan levels, on the Administration Committee of the Archdiocesan Council where he assisted in the development of resources for the training Parish Councils, and on the Legal Committee of the Archdiocese. He also served as President of the Clergy Syndesmos of the Metropolis of Atlanta for several years and the Archdiocesan Presbyters Council.

In early December 2011, Fr. Sevastianos was elected Bishop of Zela by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He was consecrated to the Episcopacy by Archbishop Demetrios of America on December 17, at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of Holy Trinity in Manhattan, New York. Concelebrating with the Archbishop were Hierarchs of the Archdiocese of America.

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Sevastianos (Skordallos) of Zela
Preceded by:
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Bishop of Zela
Titular

2011-Present
Succeeded by:
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