The Synod of Bishops at the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has unanimously elected the Very Rev. Nathaniel Symeonides as the new Metropolitan of Chicago, a seat that was vacant since last year’s passing of Metropolitan Iakovos.
The New York City-based Symeonides was born in Thessaloniki and is a Graduate of Hellenic College and a 2003 Graduate of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.
He holds a doctorate of Theology in Bioethics from Boston University, and a masters degree from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.
He has served the Archdiocese of America in numerous capacities, including as a deacon to Archbishop Demetrios, as well as numerous parishes in the New York City area.
Fr. Nathaniel’s notable work includes his current work as director of the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith Relations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. In this capacity, he serves as the Greek Orthodox Church’s representative to the United Nations on matters pertaining to human rights.
Fr. Nathaniel was one of 40 eligible candidates submitted to the Ecumenical Patriarchate following a vote by the Synod of U.S. Metropolitans on Monday.
The Chicago Metropolis has been vacant since Metropolitan Iakovos died on June 2 at the age of 89.
The successful election follows a previous unsuccessful process when the first list submitted by the Archdiocese of America was rejected and returned by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, claiming the list was insufficient and didn’t contain all possible names.
The Patriarchate announced the news in a press release on its website.
An individual present at the voting also shared the event on Facebook Live.
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