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.
The future metropolitan served for 30 years as a professor of speech and communications at Ithaca College. He also served for a period as a vice president of the college, in charge of student affairs. The college established the Perialas Prize in Epiphanios' honor in 1997. The prize is given to three students annually.
In 1984 he was ordained to the priesthood (taking at that time the name Epiphanios) and served in a variety of parishes, including St. Catherine's in Ithaca (for 15 years) and the Assumption (Koimisis of the Theotokos) Greek Orthodox Church in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, from which he was elected Metropolitan.
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. Previously, Spain and Portugal had constituted an exarchate of the Metropolis of France.
In March of 2007, Metropolitan Epiphanios informed the Ecumenical Patriarch 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 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.
| Epiphanios (Perialas) of Bryoula | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: — |
Metropolitan of Spain and Portugal 2003-2007 |
Succeeded by: Polikarpos (Stavropoulos) |
| Preceded by: — |
Metropolitan of Bryoula 2007-2011 |
Succeeded by: — |
Sources
- "Archimandrite Epiphanios Perialas Elected First Metropolitan of Spain and Portugal," (PDF) The Orthodox Observer, May 2003, page 5.
- "Former professor keeps the faith," The Ithacan, September 11, 2003.
- "Archimandrite Epiphanios Perialas Elected Metropolitan," (PDF) The Shepherd's Staff, May 2003, page 4.
- "Archimandrite Epiphanios Perialas Elected First Metropolitan of Spain and Portugal," Orthodox Christian Comment website.