Changes

Metropolitan '''Epiphanios (Perialas)''' is a hierarch of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]]. He is was the first [[primate ]] of the [[Metropolis ]] of Spain and Portugal.

Metropolitan Epiphanios was born in Ithaca, New York , in 1935, as Constantine Perialas. He is a graduate of Syracuse University and [[Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.]].

The future metropolian metropolitan served for 30 years as a professor of speech and communications at Ithaca Collegein the State of New York. He also served for a period as a vice president of the college, in charge of student affairs. He retired from Ithaca College in 1996. The college established the Perialas Prize in Epiphanios' honor in 1997. The prize is given to three students annually.

In 1984 he was [[ordination|ordained ]] to the priesthood [[priest]]hood (taking at that time the name ''Epiphanios'') and served in a variety of parishes[[parish]]es, including St. Catherine's in Ithaca (for 15 years) and the Assumption ([[Dormition|Koimisis]] of the [[Theotokos ]]) Greek Orthodox Church in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. On April 12, 2003, the [[Holy Synod]] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate from which he was elected FrMetropolitan. Father Epiphanios as was elevated to the first bishop dignity of the newly-created Metropolis of Spain and Portugal. Previously, Spain and Portugal had constituted an [[exarchatearchimandrite]] of the Metropolis of France. In March of 2007, Metropolitan Epiphanios informed the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of his intentions to retire. The Holy Synod then elected him as Titular Metropolitan of Vriolwn, and elected his successor - His Grace Bishop Polikarpos Stavropoulos, from the Metropolis of Italy. Metropolitan-elect Polikarpos will be enthroned at the Patriarchate on May 6, 2007 and enthroned soon thereafter. His Eminence Metropolitan Epiphanios will stay on for a short transition and likely return to the U.S. in early summer.  ==Source== *"Archimandrite Epiphanios Perialas Elected First Metropolitan of Spain and Portugal," ''The Orthodox Observer'', May 2003, page 5. [http://www.goarch.org/en/news/observer/pdf/2003/03-05-MAY.pdf PDF link]*[http://www1985.ithaca.edu/ithacan/articles/0309/11/accent/3former_profe.htm "Former professor keeps the faith," ''The Ithacan'', September 11, 2003.]*[http://www.detroit.goarch.org/news/shepherds/4-03.pdf "Archimandrite Epiphanios Perialas Elected Metropolitan", ''The Shepherd's Staff'', May 2003, page 4]* "Archimandrite Epiphanios Perialas Elected First Metropolitan of Spain and Portugal", [http://www.orthodox-christian-comment.co.uk/news-firstmetropopitanofspain&portugal.htm Orthodox Christian Comment website]

before=''new creation''—|

years=April 2003 - May 2007|after=[[Polikarpos (Stavropoulos) of Spain and Portugal|Polikarpos (Stavropoulos)]]}}{{succession|before=—|title=Metropolitan of Bryoula|years=2007-2011|after=—}}