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The National Herald - January 15, 2005

Search for Successor to Met. Anthony Now Underway

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ANALYSIS

By Theodore Kalmoukos
Special to The National Herald

BOSTON – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has initiated the process to fill the vacant metropolitical seat at the Metropolis of San Francisco after the sudden death of the late Metropolitan Anthony on Christmas Day.

According to sources at the Archdiocese, Archbishop Demetrios of America is trying very hard to promote Bishop Savas of Troas, Chancellor of the Archdiocese. The National Herald has learned that, shortly after notifying the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople that Metropolitan Anthony died, the Archbishop also requested that the Chancellor be elevated the metropolitical throne in San Francisco.

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Bishop Anthimos of Olympos, who is also officially listed among the retired Bishops of the Archdiocese and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, has signaled his interest for the Metropolis of San Francisco, where he had been assisting the late Metropolitan Anthony for the past almost nine years.

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The Herald has learned that Metropolitans Tarasios of Buenos Aires and Nikitas of Hong Kong have expressed interest to be transferred to San Francisco. According to the Archdiocesan Charter, however, eligible candidates should have been served the Archdiocese for at least five years, so the selection process does not provide much room for Tarasios or Nikitas to maneuver.

Also, the name of Archimandrite John Heropoulos has also come into play. | The Very Rev. Heropoloulos was a close associate of former Archbishop Spyridon, having served as Director of the Archbishop’s Office under Spyridon. In 2003, Rev. Heropoulos donated one of his kidneys to a 16-year-old Greek American boy and saved his life. He is currently pastor of Saint George Cathedral in Hartford, Connecticut.

[ The National Herald - January 15, 2005 - pp. 1 & 5 ]

[ The National Herald
  www.thenationalherald.com/article/6835
  January 14, 2005 ]