The Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece initiated the relevant procedures fill the Holy Metropolis of Thessaloniki by electing the new Metropolitan Bishop. Father Filotheos, who previously served as the Bishop of Oreon, has been elected the city’s new Metropolitan Bishop with 73 votes, and will replace the outgoing Anthimos.
The new – and young – Metropolitan of Thessaloniki was born on 9 July 1977 in Chalkida, and first studied at the Athens Ecclesiastical School. He then continued his studies at the Theological School of the University of Athens. Finally, he completed his postgraduate studies at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the city which he is now going to serve.
Throughout his career, Filotheos has worked extensively with the youth as a Catechist and was as a camps leader at the Holy Metropolis of Chalkida. Since 2014 he was a member of the Society for the Protection of Minors of Chalkida, maintaining a very strong spiritual – and personal – connection with his mother city.
Finally, Filotheos has developed a very close relationship with Archbishop Ieronymos. Specifically, Ieronymos appointed Filotheos as Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod in 2019, as well as Auxiliary Bishop of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens, again enjoying Ieronymos’ blessing and support.
