Augustinos (Kantiotes) of Florina

Metropolitan Augustinos (Kantiotes).

Metropolitan Augustinos (Kantiotes).

His Eminence Metropolitan Augustinos Kantiotes (Greek: Αυγουστίνος Καντιώτης), April 20, 1907 – August 28, 2010, was bishop of the Holy Metropolis of Florina, Prespai, and Eordaia in northern Greece, renowned as a defender of traditional Orthodoxy both in Greece and abroad, and a prolific writer of spiritual literature, publishing 82 books, several of which have appeared in English and in other languages.

Life

Andrew Kantiotis was born on April 20, 1907 on the island of Paros, on the Cyclades island group in the Aegean Sea . He graduated from the Theological School of Athens in 1929.

In 1935, Andrew was tonsured a monk, taking the name Augustine, and in the same year he was ordained a deacon by Metr. Ierotheos (Paraskevopoulos) (1934-1961) of Akarnania.

In 1941, Dcn. Augustine transferred to the Metropolis of Ioannina where he served as preacher under Metropolitan Spyridon, who later became Archbishop of Athens. During the years of Axis Powers' occupation of Greece in World War II, Fr. Augustine served variously. In 1942, he was transferred to the Metropolis of Edessa where he was ordained a presbyter by the Metr. Panteleimon of Edessa and Pella. At the end of the year, he was transferred to the Metropolis of Thessalonica and served stints to Kilkis, Veria, Edessa and Florina. In 1943, Fr. Augustine transferred again to the Metropolis of Kozani where he established a food-kitchen that prepared and distributed 8000 servings each day.

Following the war, he served as Chancellor of the Metropolis of Aitolia, as a priest for the military (1947-50), and as a preacher in Athens (1951-67). He issued dozens of periodicals, founded boarding schools, was the founder of "The Cross" ("O Stavros") theological brotherhood, and was most noted as a fiery preacher throughout Greece.

In 1951, Fr. Augustine transferred from the Metropolis of Karystia to the Archdiocese of Athens. He served the archdiocese as preacher, first, under Archbishop Spyridon and for the next 17 years under five different archbishops.

Following his election by the Holy Synod, Fr. Augustine was enthroned on June 25, 1967, as the Metropolitan of the Metropolis of Florina, Prespai, and Eordaia.

On June 25, 1967, he was enthroned as the Metropolitan of Florina. During his years as metropolitan of Florina, Metr. Augustine re-established the magazine "The Orthodox Herald", served for five terms on the Holy Synod, ordained about one hundred priests, established an ecclesiastical high-school in Florina, and built many churches, boarding houses, and old-age homes.

Feeling his advancing years, Metr. Augustine on December 9, 1999 submitted his resignation from the cathedra after serving the Metropolis for 33 years. He formally retired on January 15, 2000, but continued visiting parishes delivering brief sermons, blessings congregations, and distributing antidoron.

Following a stroke on August 3, 2010, Metr. Augustine reposed in the Lord on August 28, 2010 about 5am, aged 103.

Books in English translation

• On The Divine Liturgy: Orthodox Homilies. 2 Volumes. Transl. and forward by Asterios Gerostergios. Massachusetts: Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 1986. Complete set ISBN 0-914744-71-2.

Originally appeared in the Greek under the title: Εις την Θειαν Λειτουργιαν, Πατρικαι Ομιλιαι, published by the Orthodox Missionary Brotherhood, "Ο Σταυρος" ("The Cross"), Athens, 1977.

• Follow Me. Transl. & Fwd by Asterios Gerostergios. Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 1989. 428pp.
• Sparks from the Apostles. Transl. & Fwd by Rev. Dr. Asterios Gerostergios. Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 1992. 230pp.
• Drops from the Living Water. Transl. & Fwd by Rev. Dr. Asterios Gerostergios. Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 1992. 216pp.
• A Letter of Consolation to the Bereaved. Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 1993. 21 pp.
• Orthodox House of Worship. Transl. & Fwd by Rev. Dr. Asterios Gerostergios. Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 1994. 232 pp.
• Miracles. Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 2000. 268 pp.
• A Panoramic View of Holy Scripture: Orthodox Homilies Introducing all the Books of the Old Testament. Transl. & Fwd by Rev. Dr. Asterios Gerostergios. Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 2001. Vol.1. 303pp.
• A Panoramic View of Holy Scripture: Orthodox Homilies Introducing all the Books of the New Testament. Transl. & Fwd by Rev. Dr. Asterios Gerostergios. Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 2001. Vol.2: 184pp.
• Fragrant Flowers: Orthodox Homilies on the Lives of the Saints. Transl. & Fwd by Rev. Dr. Asterios Gerostergios. Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 2006. 221pp.

Articles

• WHAT IS PAPISM? 1956.
• OPEN EPISTLE TO THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH. Christian Spark. Issue no. 438, March-April 1985.

Succession box: Augustinos (Kantiotes) of Florina
Preceded by: ?	Metropolitan of Florina, Prespai and Eordaia 1967-2000	Succeeded by: Theoklitos (Passalis)

Help with box

Sources

• Augoustinos Kantiotes at Wikipedia.
• Bishop Augostinos Kandiotis of Florina, Greece
• Elder Augustine Kantiotis. Apostle Paul Bookstore, Rockdale, NSW.
• Archimandrite Laurentios Gratseas. SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP AUGOUSTINOS N. KANTIOTES, FORMER METROPOLITAN OF FLORINA,PRESPAS AND EORDAIA. 2010.

Greek sources

• Αυγουστίνος Καντιώτης. Βικιπαίδεια.
• Zougla.gr News. Εκοιμήθη ο Αυγουστίνος Καντιώτης. Σάββατο, 28 Αυγούστου 2010, 11:49.

External link

• Holy Metropolis of Florina, Prespai and Eordaia (Greek)