Simeon (Koutsis) of New Smyrna
His Eminence Simeon (Koutsis) of New Smyrna, also spelled Simeon (Koutsas), is the Metropolitan of the Metropolis of New Smyrna under the jurisdiction of the Church of Greece since 2002. The metropolis is located in a southern suburb of Athens, Greece.
Life
Pericles Koutsis was born in 1945 in Pterounta on the island of Lesbos in the northeastern Aegean Sea. After completing his basic education, Pericles entered the Theological Faculty of the University of Athens in 1963. He received his degree upon his graduation in 1967 and then began his service obligation with the Greek military forces.
After completing his military service, he served for two years as secretariat of the Metropolis of Attica. In 1973, he was ordained a deacon with the name Simeon. From 1973 to 1974, he served as a preacher in the churches of the Metropolis of Attica. In 1975, Dcn. Simeon was ordained a priest and also raised to the dignity of archimandrite by Metropolitan Hierotheos (Tsantilis) of Hydra, Spetses and Aegina. From 1974 to 1979, Father Simeon primarily served among young people with whom he emphasized sermons, the catechism, and confession in the churches of the Metropolis of Hydra, Spetses and Aegina. Transferred to the Metropolis of New Smyrna in 1979, he continuing these services until his consecration in 2002.
In 1981, Fr. Simeon received a sabbatical leave and a scholarship from the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece to continue his education at the graduate level in France, where he specialized in Patrology and Byzantine Theology. Subsequently, he received a scholarship from the French Government to continue his studies at the University of Strasbourg. He received his doctorate degree at University of Strasbourg in 1984. While he was in France, Fr. Simeon served with the Metropolis of France in both Paris and Strasbourg.
In addition to his pastoral work, Fr. Simeon has participated as a member or as a speaker at various theological, clerical, denominational conferences. He has written many books, articles, and book reviews, and translated French texts written by Diaspora Orthodox theologians.
Archim. Simeon was elected by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece to the episcopate on October 11, 2002, and consecrated Metropolitan of the Metropolis of New Smyrna in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens. On November 30, 2002, he was enthroned in the Cathedral of St. Potini in New Smyrna.
| Simeon (Koutsis) of New Smyrna | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Agathangelos (Tampouratzakis) |
Metropolitan of New Smyrna 2002-Present |
Succeeded by: — |
