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Archimandrite Bessarion (Komzias) was elected today, Thursday, January 14, 2021, the new Metropolitan of Spain and Portugal by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Archimandrite Bessarion (born Spiridon Komziás) was born on July 7, 1975, in Athens.
In 2000, he graduated from the Faculty of Theology at the University of Thessaloniki. In 2006, he studied at the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy and graduated in 2009. On February 1, 2009, as part of the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, he attended the Enthronement of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. On July 5, 2009, in Constantinople, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew tonsured him a monk and appointed him rector of the Russian-speaking parish of St. Alypius the Stylite in Antalya (Turkey). He was also appointed as Grand Hierokyrix the Patriarchate of Constantinople. On July 24, 2013, in the context of the celebrations for the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus, he received the 3rd degree of the Order of Saint Vladimir in recognition of his service in the Church. On October 31, 2013, at the proposal of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, he was one of the candidates for the election of the new bishop of the Patriarchal Exarchate in Western Europe.
Archimandrite Bessarion has also served in the Secretariat and in the Patriarchal Library and Archive of Constantinople, as well as priest in charge of the Patriarchal Church of Saint George.
New Metropolitan of Kolonya
Bishop Athanasios of Tropaion, who was until now the assistant of the Holy Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain, was promoted today by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, to Metropolitan of Kolonya.
Athanasios Theocharous was born in Marathovouno in Cyprus on the 20th of November 1943. He studied theology at the Theological School of Athens. He was ordained a deacon on the 6th of August 1969 and a presbyter on the 10th of August 1969. He served as a priest and protosyncellus of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain. On the 12th of April 1997, he was ordained Titular Bishop of Tropaion, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain.
Today, Thursday, on the 14th of January 2021, he was elected Metropolitan of Kolonya.
Source: fanarion.blogspot.com
