View source for Epiphanios (Perialas) of Bryoula

Metropolitan '''Epiphanios (Perialas)''' is a hierarch of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]].  He was the first [[primate]] of the [[Metropolis]] of Spain and Portugal.

==Life==

Metropolitan Epiphanios was born in Ithaca, New York, in 1935, as Constantine Perialas.  He is a graduate of Syracuse University and [[Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology]].

The future metropolitan served for 30 years as a professor of speech and communications at Ithaca College in the State of New York.  He also served for a period as a vice president of the college, in charge of student affairs.  He retired from Ithaca College in 1996. The college established the Perialas Prize in Epiphanios' honor in 1997.  The prize is given to three students annually.

In 1984 he was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[priest]]hood (taking at that time the name ''Epiphanios'') and served in a variety of [[parish]]es, including St. Catherine's in Ithaca (for 15 years) and the Assumption ([[Dormition|Koimisis]] of the [[Theotokos]]) Greek Orthodox Church in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, from which he was elected Metropolitan. Father Epiphanios was elevated to the dignity of [[archimandrite]] in May 1985.

On [[April 12]], 2003, the [[Holy Synod]] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected Fr. Epiphanios as the first [[bishop]] of the newly-created Metropolis of Spain and Portugal. Archi. Epiphanios was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] in Constantinople on [[May 4]], 2003 and was enthroned as Metropolitan of Spain and Portugal in Madrid on [[June 7]], 2003. Previously, Spain and Portugal had constituted an [[exarchate]] of the Metropolis of France.

In March of 2007, Metropolitan Epiphanios informed the Ecumenical [[Patriarch]] [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew]] of his intentions to retire.   The [[Holy Synod]] then elected him as Titular Metropolitan of Bryoula, and elected his successor: the V. Rev. [[Archimandrite]] Polikarpos Stavropoulos, from the Metropolis of Italy.  Metropolitan Polikarpos was [[consecration|consecrated]] at the Patriarchate on [[May 6]], 2007, and was enthroned on [[June 16]], 2007, in the Orthodox Cathedral of Apostle Andrew and Saint Dimitrios in Madrid.
His Eminence Metropolitan Epiphanios stayed on for a short transition and returned to the U.S. in mid-summer 2007. 

Metr. Epiphanios reposed on [[May 9]], 2011 after a long fight with cancer. Funeral services were held at St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church in Ithaca, New York on [[May 14]].

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{{succession|
before=&mdash;|
title=Metropolitan of Spain and Portugal|
years=2003-2007|
after=[[Polikarpos (Stavropoulos) of Spain and Portugal|Polikarpos (Stavropoulos)]]}}
{{succession|
before=&mdash;|
title=Metropolitan of Bryoula|
years=2007-2011|
after=&mdash;}}
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==Sources==
*[http://www.goarch.org/news/observer/03-05-MAY.pdf/issuu  "Archimandrite Epiphanios Perialas Elected First Metropolitan of Spain and Portugal," (PDF)] ''The Orthodox Observer'', May 2003, page 5.
*[http://www.ithaca.edu/ithacan/articles/0309/11/accent/3former_profe.htm "Former professor keeps the faith,"] ''The Ithacan'', September 11, 2003.
*[http://www.detroit.goarch.org/news/shepherds/4-03.pdf "Archimandrite Epiphanios Perialas Elected Metropolitan," (PDF)] ''The Shepherd's Staff'', May 2003, page 4.
* [http://www.orthodox-christian-comment.co.uk/news-firstmetropopitanofspain&portugal.htm "Archimandrite Epiphanios Perialas Elected First Metropolitan of Spain and Portugal,"]  Orthodox Christian Comment website.
*[http://goarch.org/news/epiphanios-fallsasleep-05142011-en  GOARCH:Metropolitan Epiphanios of Bryoula Fell Asleep in the Lord]

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Holy Cross Seminary Graduates]]