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Basil (Blatsos) of Caesarea

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His Eminence Basil (Blatsos) of Caesarea was a hierarch of the Church of Jerusalem, serving as Archbishop of Jordan and Metropolitan of Caesarea since 1962 to his death in 2012.

Life

Christos Blatsos was born in 1923 in the city of Argos, Peloponnese, Greece. He came to Jerusalem in 1939 and entered the Greek gymnasium. After his graduation, he continued his education at the English school called "Bishop Cobat School" from which he graduated.

Christos then entered a monastic career and was tonsured a monk, with the name Basil (Vasilios), and ordained a deacon in 1946. He then continued his studies in theology at the Theological School of the University of Athens. After his graduation from the university, Dn. Basil returned to Jerusalem and taught at the gymnasium. In 1954, Dn. Basil was ordained to the priesthood and was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. He was also appointed editor of the "New Zion" magazine. Father Basil was appointed the Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Church of Jerusalem. In 1957, Fr. Basil was appointed General Secretary of the Holy Synod, a position he continued to hold until 1981. 
In 1962, Fr. Basil was elected and consecrated Archbishop of Jordan. In 1975, he was elected Metropolitan of Caesarea. In 1981, Metropolitan Basil was appointed Patriarchal Commissioner and represented the Jerusalem Patriarchate at various meetings and conferences. Additionally, he visited all the Orthodox Patriarchates as well as the Ethiopian Church. In 2005, he was again appointed Patriarchal Commissioner.

On October 2, 2012, Metropolitan Basil of Caesarea reposed at the age of 90. He was the most senior hierarch of the Church of Jerusalem. His funeral service was conducted the next day, October 3, by the Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem, concelebrated with the bishops and clergy of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, at the Church of St. Thecla the Martyr.

Succession box:
Basil (Blatsos) of Caesarea
Preceded by:
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Archbishop of Jordan
1962-1976
Succeeded by:
Palladios (Antoniou)
Preceded by:
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Metropolitan of Caesarea
1981-2012
Succeeded by:
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Sources