View source for Paul (Apostolidis) of Drama

His Eminence '''Paul (Apostolidis) of Drama''' is the [[Metropolitan]] of the Metropolis of Drama under the administration of the [[Church of Greece]]. The [[Metropolis of Drama]] is a metropolis in the New Lands of Greece, under the [[jurisdiction]] of the [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]]. [http://www.patriarchate.org/patriarchate/jurisdiction/administration/dioceses/new-lands]. He has served as the ruling hierarch of the metropolis since 2005. 

==Life== 
Alexander Apostolidis was born in 1963 in the city of Veria in Greek Macedonia in northern Greece. He studied at the Theological Faculty of the University of Thessalonica, receiving a Master's degree in 1995 and a Doctor of Theology degree in 2002. 

Alexander entered the [[Holy Orders]] in 1983 when he was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]] and was given the name Paul. Later that year he was ordained a [[priest]]. Father Paul was elevated to the dignity of [[archimandrite]] in 1988. He was appointed [[abbot]] of the Monastery of Panagia Sumela.

Fr. Paul was elected to the [[episcopate]] in 2005 by the Synod of Bishops of the Church of Greece and [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] Metropolitan of the Metropolis of Drama on [[October 9]], 2005, following the repose of Metr. [Dionysios (Kyratsos) of Drama|Dionysios (Kyratsos)]] on [[September 30]], 2005.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Dionysios (Kyratsos) of Drama|Dionysios (Kyratsos)]]|
title=Metropolitan of Drama|
years=2005-Present|
after=&mdash;}}
{{end box}}

==Sources==
*[http://www.ecclesia.gr/greek/dioceses/Dramas/Dramas.html   Drama]  In Greek
*[http://www.ecclesia.gr/English/holysynod/hierarchy.htm  Holy Synod]]

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category: Bishops of Drama]]
[[Category: 21st-century bishops]]
[[Category: Theological School of Aristotle University of Thessalonica Graduates]]