Our Hierarchs……………………………………………………………………..….…...Pages

His All Holiness, Bartholomew, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch is the 270th successor of the 2,000 year-old local Christian Church founded by St. Andrew. As Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome, Patriarch Bartholomew occupies the First Throne of the Orthodox Christian Church and presides in fraternal spirit among all the Orthodox Primates.

His Eminence, Elpidophoros, Archbishop of America was born in 1967 in Bakirkoy, Istanbul, Turkey. He studied at the Theological School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, from which he graduated in 1991. He was ordained a Deacon in 1994 and was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod in 1995. In March 2005 he was promoted to the position of Chief Secretary and was subsequently ordained to the Holy Priesthood. In March 2011 he was elected Metropolitan of Bursa and in August of that same year was appointed Abbot of the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monastery of the Holy Trinity on the island of Chalki. He was enthroned as Archbishop of America on June 22, 2019 in New York City.

Born: February 29, 1940 Diaconate: August 13, 1961 Holy Priesthood: October 19, 1969 Enthronement as Metropolitan of Philadelphia: Christmas 1973 Enthronement as Metropolitan of Chalcedon: January 14, 1990 Enthronement in the Patriarchal Cathedral: November 2, 1991 Patronal Feast Day: June 11

His All Holiness Bartholomew Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch

His Eminence, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory, Titular Bishop of Nyssa, was born in Charlotte, NC on December 7, 1958, with the baptismal name of George, the first of two children of Peter and Antonia Tatsis. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earning a BA degree in Biology (1981) and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte earning a MS degree in Biology (1989). Working for more than 20 years in the field of Cardiovascular Research at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, he authored/ coauthored over one hundred articles, abstracts and book chapters. A true son of the Church, from his early youth Metropolitan Gregory served in his home parish of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Charlotte, NC in various capacities including altar server, Sunday School teacher for 13 years and in several leadership positions including Parish Council President. He was also a founding member of St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte, NC where served on the Parish Organizing Committee, as Sunday School teacher for four years, as a member of the choir and as its first Parish Council President. After taking part in a mission trip to

Alaska sponsored by the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, Metropolitan Gregory felt the calling to pursue his life-long dream of studying for the Holy Priesthood. Leaving his secular job in 2003, he entered Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA in the Fall of 2003 and graduated in May of 2006 with the Masters of Divinity degree. Metropolitan Gregory was ordained to the diaconate at St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte, NC on November 4, 2006 by His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta. He was tonsured a Monk at Agia Lavra Monastery in Kalavryta, Greece on January 17, 2007, receiving the name His Eminence, Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa Ruling Bishop of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese

Grigorios with St. Gregory Palamas as his Patron Saint. He was ordained a Priest at Annunciation Greek Orthodoxdox Cathedral in Atlanta, GA on January 28, 2007, also by His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of the Metropolis of Atlanta and was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite on the same day. On February 1, 2007, he was appointed as the Ierokyrix (Itinerant Preacher) of the Metropolis of Atlanta. On September 14, 2007, he received the offikion (rank) of Confessor at the Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Chapel in Atlanta, GA. Serving in his role as Itinerant Preacher and Confessor, Metropolitan Gregory travelled extensively throughout the Metropolis of Atlanta, where he led parish retreats, heard confessions and provided spiritual directions to countless numbers of clergy and faithful. Recognizing his affinity for youth ministry and administrative skills, he was given the responsibility of overseeing all youth programs in the Metropolis of Atlanta. Metropolitan Gregory also served as the Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Raleigh, NC from December 20, 2010 until May 31, 2011. From October 1, 2011 until September 30, 2012, he served as Dean of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in New Orleans, LA, and as Vicar of the Western Conference of the Metropolis of Atlanta. Metropolitan Gregory was nominated as the successor to His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas of Amissos by the clergy of the American CarpathoRussian Orthodox Diocese of the USA at a Special Assembly on July 14, 2012. He was canonically elected Titular Bishop of Nyssa and ruling Hierarch of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA by the Sacred and Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople on August 30, 2012. He was consecrated to the Episcopacy and enthroned as the fourth ruling bishop of the Diocese on November 27, 2012 at Christ the Saviour Orthodox Cathedral in Johnstown, PA. Since his enthronement as Diocesan Bishop he has ordained many men to the ordained ministry for service to our Diocese and has worked diligently together with the National A.C.R.Y. to revitalize the organization. He spends four weeks each summer enjoying fellowship and fun with young people from across the Diocese.

Seeing the love and dedication to young people, His Eminence was assigned by the Assembly of Bishops to be the Episcopal Overseer of the National Orthodox Christian Fellowship, where he works to keep our college students growing their life in Christ while in school.

In the fall of 2017, his brother Bishops again honored him by electing him as the Secretary of the Assembly of Bishops, and re-elected in October 2020. In the fall of 2018, he was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan by the Sacred and Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. He remarked that this was a great honor not only for himself but for the whole Diocese.