Τhe Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate convened under the presidency of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during its regular sessions held on Tuesday, June 23, and Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
According to the official communiqué issued following the Synod’s proceedings, the members of the Holy and Sacred Synod unanimously elected Archimandrite Isidoros Katsos as Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch, bearing the title of the once-renowned Bishopric of Andida.
The election took place following a proposal by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and a canonical vote of the Synodal members.
Bishop-elect Isidoros serves as Assistant Professor of Theological Epistemology and Philosophy at the Faculty of Theology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Following his election, the Small and Great Messages of the newly elected bishop were celebrated at the Patriarchal Church of St. George in the Phanar. The bishop-elect received the congratulations and blessings of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne, and members of the Patriarchal Court.
During its sessions, the Holy and Sacred Synod also examined all matters included on the agenda and adopted the corresponding decisions.
Bishop-elect Isidoros (born Charalampos Katsos) is a distinguished theologian and academic. He serves as Assistant Professor of Theological Epistemology and Philosophy at the Faculty of Theology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
In addition to his academic position in Athens, he holds several prestigious international appointments. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a McDonald Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of Law and Religion at Emory University, and a Member of the Centre for the Study of Platonism at the University of Cambridge.
Photos: Nikos Papachristou
