Bishop Epifanios of Talantio has been elected as the new Metropolitan of Mantineia and Kynouria by the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece. He secured a significant majority with 66 votes, surpassing the two other candidates, Bishop Theoklitos of Tegea, who received 9 votes, and Archimandrite Seraphim Demetriou, who received 1 vote.
This election confirms an earlier report by orthodoxtimes.com, which had identified Bishop Epifanios as the frontrunner for the position. His election as Metropolitan comes almost a year after his initial election as Bishop of Talantio in October 2023.
Who is the new Metropolitan
Born Vasileios Karageorgos in Triantaiika, Aitoloakarnania, on November 23, 1971, Metropolitan Epifanios is a distinguished theologian and bishop. He completed his secondary education in Agrinio before studying at the Higher Ecclesiastical School of Athens and the Theological School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
On December 5, 1998, he was tonsured a monk, taking the name Epifanios, and was ordained a Deacon the following day. He was later ordained as a Presbyter on May 31, 1999, by Metropolitan Theoklitos of Aetolia and Acarnania. In November 2005, he was bestowed the offikion of Archimandrite by Metropolitan Kosmas of Aetolia and Acarnania, where he served in several high-ranking roles, including General Hierarchical Vicar and Protosyncellus, for over 17 years.
In March 2023, Bishop Epifanios joined the clergy of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens, where he served as the head of the Church of St. Anthony in Ano Patisia. On October 9, 2023, at the proposal of Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, he was elected Assistant Bishop of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens, and his ordination took place later that month.
On October 4, 2024, Bishop Epifanios was officially elected as Metropolitan of Mantineia and Kynouria, marking the beginning of his new leadership role within the Church of Greece.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
