Metropolis of Aitolia and Akarnania

The Metropolis of Aitolia and Acarnania, also known as Aitoloakarnania (Gr: Αιτωλοακαρνανία), is the largest Metropolis under the jurisdiction of the Church of Greece; it is a combination of the Aetolia and Acarnania prefectures located in the western part of Greece. This Metropolis was founded in its modern form from 1922.

Metropolitans

1. His Eminence Metropolitan Porfyrios (1833-1838)
2. His Eminence Metropolitan Ioerotheos (Aristarhos) (1841-1852)
3. His Eminence Metropolitan Theofilos (Blahopapadopoulos) (1852-1862)
4. His Eminence Metropolitan Parthenios (Akylas) (1892-1914)*
5. His Eminence Metropolitan Konstantinos (Konstantinidis) (1922-1934)
6. His Eminence Metropolitan Ierotheos (Paraskevopoulos( (1934-1961)
7. His Eminence Metropolitan Theoklitos (Arvanitis) (1965-2005)
8. His Eminence Metropolitan Cosmas (Papachristos) (2005 - Present)

Structure

The Metropolis is a combination of 212 local churches and 582 small chapels. There are 15 monasteries in total.

Monasteries

Male monasteries:

1. The Holy Monastery of St. Eleousa (Messolonghi, Aetolia)
2. The Holy Monastery of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary (Myerta, Aetolia))
3. The Holy Monastery of the Birth of the Theotokos in Retha
4. The Holy Monastery of St. George (Astakos, Aetolia)
5. The Holy Monastery of the Birth of the Theotokos, in Romvos

Female convents:

1. The Holy Monastery of the Birth of the Theotokos in Katerinous
2. The Holy Monastery of the Birth of Theotokos in Ligovitsi
3. The Holy Monastery of St. Symeon (Messolongi, Aetolia)
4. The Holy Monastery of the Pantokrator "Almighty" (Angelokastro, Aetolia)
5. The Holy Monastery of St. Kosmas the Aitolian - Building under construction 2007-2008.

Local Saints or feasts

• St. Kosmas the Aitolian (1714-1779), commemorated August 24.
• St. Spyridon of Mesologgi
• St. Christoforos of Agrinio
• St. Athanasios of Amphilohias
• Holy new-Martyr John of Agrinio
• St. Vlasios of Sklaveni

Institutions

• Drosinio Orphanage
• Sevilion Home for the Aged

Communications

Newspapers

• Kosmas o Etolos (St. Kosmas from Etolia) monthly periodical

Source

• Church of Greece Website (Greek and English)