New Greek Metropolitan of Chicago elected: Archim. Nathaniel Symeonides

The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate unanimously elected Archimandrite Nathanael Symeonides to the vacant Chicago See earlier this morning, Romfea reports.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America falls under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Fr. Nathanel was one of 40 eligible candidates submitted to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Chicago See has been vacant since His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago fell asleep in the Lord on June 2 at the age of 89.

Fr. Nathanael currently serves as director of the Archdiocesan Advisory Committee on Science & Technology and director of Inter-Orthodox Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations and as pastor of Holy Annunciation Church in New York City. He is a brother of St. George Apanosifis Monastery in Crete.

Fr. Nathanel was born in Thessaloniki in 1978. He graduated from both Hellenic College and Holy Cross Seminary in Boston, then receiving his Ph.D. in Theology in 2007 from the University of Boston, as well as the University of Columbia, where he specialized in the history and ethics of public health. He has taught as a visiting professor of Ethics and Bioethics at Fordham University and Holy Cross and St. Vladimir’s Seminaries, and has published several articles on theology and bioethics.

He was ordained to the diaconate in 2003, serving as the deacon to the archbishop from 2006-2010, and to the priesthood in 2010 by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. He currently serves as the pastor of Holy Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in New York City. His pastoral ministry has included the development of the “Orthodox Professionals in Action” pastoral organization, which has given more than 400 young Manhattan professionals the opportunity to work with the most vulnerable people in the area and make a difference in their lives.

He was appointed the director of Inter-Orthodox Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations in September 2013 and developed the Archdiocese’s relations with many religious organizations and permanent representatives of the United Nations. He also organized the academic conference “Orthodoxy and Humanism: Ideas and Actions in the Modern World,” which gathered experts from around the world to discuss how the Church can help in humanitarian crises and promote sustainable development in the aftermath of crises.

Source: Orthodox Church