Difference between revisions of "Seraphim (Tikas) of Athens"

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Archbishop Seraphim (Tikas) of Athens(b. Aug. 15, 1913, Artesianon, Greece--d. April 10, 1998, Athens, Greece), served as the head of the Orthodox Church in Greece from 1974. Conservative and anti-intellectual, he had a common touch that brought him great popularity. After receiving a degree in theology from the University of Athens in 1941, Seraphim was ordained a priest in 1942 and became active in the Greek resistance to the Nazi occupation. He established soup kitchens and orphanages and later fought with the Greek Democratic National Army resistance group. Seraphim became bishop of Arta in 1949 and of Ioannina in 1958. In the latter post he took up the cause of the ethnic Greek minority in southern Albania, whose religious practices were being suppressed by the government. He also supported guerrillas fighting for the union of Cyprus with Greece in the 1950s. Even though Seraphim was chosen archbishop in a controversial election during the final months of the military dictatorship in Greece, he was able to keep his post when democracy was restored. In the years that followed, he clashed with government leaders in his attempt to resist changes in society brought about by a lessening of the church's influence. Though his efforts were generally futile, he achieved a notable victory in the mid-1980s when he helped prevent the government from expropriating church landholdings. Seraphim's last years were marked by his opposition to Roman Catholic missionary activities in Eastern Europe and to other Orthodox leaders and by his resistance to his bishops' requests for his resignation.
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His Beatitude '''Seraphim (Tikas), Archbishop of Athens and All Greece''', was the ruling hierarch of the [[Church of Greece]] from 1974 to 1998. While a conservative and anti-intellectual, he was extremely popular due to his down-to-earth nature. His tenure was during the transition between Greece's military dictatorship and a democratic government.
  
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Encyclopædia Britannica Article
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==Life==
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[[Archbishop]] Seraphim was born Vissarion Tikas (Greek, Βησσαρίων Τίκας) in Artesianon, Greece, on the [[August 15]], 1913. He attended the University of Athens, graduating with a degree in theology in 1940.
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In 1936, Vissarion was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] at the Pendeli Monastery with the name Seraphim. In 1938, he was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]] by Abp. Damaskinos of Athens and was assigned to the Church of the Holy Trinity in Neo Iraklio.
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In 1942, Hierodeacon Seraphim was ordained a [[priest]] and then elevated to the rank of [[archimandrite]] by Abp. Damascenus. He also served as secretary of the [[Holy Synod]] of the Church of Greece.
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Fr. Seraphim was active in the Greek resistance to Nazi occupation, fighting with the non-communist Greek resistance group, the National Republican Greek League (Greek: Εθνικός Δημοκρατικός Ελληνικός Σύνδεσμος, ''Ethnikos Dimokratikos Ellinikos Syndesmos'', abbreviated EDES). He also established soup kitchens and orphanages.
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Fr. Seraphim, in 1949, was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] a [[bishop]] with the [[see]] of Arta. Later, in 1958, he was transferred to the [[see]] of Ioannina. As Bishop of Ioannina, he responded to the governmental suppression of the Greek minority's religious practices in southern Albania, taking up their cause. Aside from this, he supported guerrilla warfare for the union of Cyprus with Greece in the 1950s.
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Bishop Seraphim, in the final months of the military dictatorship in Greece, was elected and elevated to Archbishop of Athens and All Greece on [[January 12]], 1974. He was able to keep his post when the dictatorship ended and democratic government was restored.
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Abp. Seraphim would go on to clash with government leaders in resisting societal changes due to a lessening of the church's influence. While these protests were generally unsuccessful, in the mid-1980s he was victorious in preventing the government from expropriating [[church]] landholdings.
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In the last years of his archepiscopacy, Abp. Seraphim's service was notable for his opposition to [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] [[missionary]] activities in Eastern Europe and even to other Orthodox leaders, and also by resisting his bishops' requests for resignation.
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Abp. Seraphim reposed in Athens, Greece, on the [[April 10]], 1998.
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{{start box}}
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{{succession|
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before=?|
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title=Bishop of Arta|
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years=1949-1958|
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after=?}}
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{{succession|
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before=?|
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title=Bishop of Ioannina|
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years=1958-1974|
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after=[[Theoklitos (Setakis) of Ioannina|Theoklitos (Setakis)]]}}
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{{succession|
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before=[[Ieronymos (Kotsonis) of Athens|Ieronymos (Kotsonis)]]|
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title=[[List of Archbishops of Athens|Archbishop of Athens]]|
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years=1975-1998|
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after=[[Christodoulos (Paraskevaides) of Athens|Christodoulos (Paraskevaidis)]]}}
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{{end box}}
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==Sources==
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*[http://www.s9.com/Biography/Seraphim  Seraphim Vissarion Tikas(Seraphim)]
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*[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/535286/Archbishop-Seraphim  Encyclopædia Britannica Article]
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*[http://wiki.phantis.com/index.php/Serafim  Serafim]
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==External links==
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*[http://orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/resources/hierarchs/greece/former/former.htm#serapheim_arch_athens Listing] at the Orthodox Research Institute
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*[[wikipedia:Archbishop_Seraphim_of_Athens]]
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[[Category:Bishops]]
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[[Category:Bishops of Arta]]
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[[Category:Bishops of Ioannina]]
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[[Category:Archbishops of Athens]]
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[[Category:20th-century bishops]]
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[[Category:University of Athens Theology School Graduates]]

Latest revision as of 20:12, February 28, 2012

His Beatitude Seraphim (Tikas), Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, was the ruling hierarch of the Church of Greece from 1974 to 1998. While a conservative and anti-intellectual, he was extremely popular due to his down-to-earth nature. His tenure was during the transition between Greece's military dictatorship and a democratic government.

Life

Archbishop Seraphim was born Vissarion Tikas (Greek, Βησσαρίων Τίκας) in Artesianon, Greece, on the August 15, 1913. He attended the University of Athens, graduating with a degree in theology in 1940.

In 1936, Vissarion was tonsured a monk at the Pendeli Monastery with the name Seraphim. In 1938, he was ordained a deacon by Abp. Damaskinos of Athens and was assigned to the Church of the Holy Trinity in Neo Iraklio.

In 1942, Hierodeacon Seraphim was ordained a priest and then elevated to the rank of archimandrite by Abp. Damascenus. He also served as secretary of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece.

Fr. Seraphim was active in the Greek resistance to Nazi occupation, fighting with the non-communist Greek resistance group, the National Republican Greek League (Greek: Εθνικός Δημοκρατικός Ελληνικός Σύνδεσμος, Ethnikos Dimokratikos Ellinikos Syndesmos, abbreviated EDES). He also established soup kitchens and orphanages.

Fr. Seraphim, in 1949, was consecrated a bishop with the see of Arta. Later, in 1958, he was transferred to the see of Ioannina. As Bishop of Ioannina, he responded to the governmental suppression of the Greek minority's religious practices in southern Albania, taking up their cause. Aside from this, he supported guerrilla warfare for the union of Cyprus with Greece in the 1950s.

Bishop Seraphim, in the final months of the military dictatorship in Greece, was elected and elevated to Archbishop of Athens and All Greece on January 12, 1974. He was able to keep his post when the dictatorship ended and democratic government was restored.

Abp. Seraphim would go on to clash with government leaders in resisting societal changes due to a lessening of the church's influence. While these protests were generally unsuccessful, in the mid-1980s he was victorious in preventing the government from expropriating church landholdings.

In the last years of his archepiscopacy, Abp. Seraphim's service was notable for his opposition to Roman Catholic missionary activities in Eastern Europe and even to other Orthodox leaders, and also by resisting his bishops' requests for resignation.

Abp. Seraphim reposed in Athens, Greece, on the April 10, 1998.

Succession box:
Seraphim (Tikas) of Athens
Preceded by:
? 		Bishop of Arta
1949-1958 		Succeeded by:
?
Preceded by:
? 		Bishop of Ioannina
1958-1974 		Succeeded by:
Theoklitos (Setakis)
Preceded by:
Ieronymos (Kotsonis) 		Archbishop of Athens
1975-1998 		Succeeded by:
Christodoulos (Paraskevaidis)
Help with box



Sources

External links

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