View source for Athanasios of Limassol

The Most Reverend Metropolitan '''Athanasios (Nikolaou) of Limassol''' is the [[Bishop]] of Limassol of the [[Church of Cyprus]]. 

==Life==
Metropolitan Athanasios was born on [[February 8]], 1959 in Limassol on the southern coast of Cyprus. In 1973, he moved to the Bishopric of Paphos, west of Limassol along the southern coast of Cyprus, where he attended the Gymnasium of Paphos. After graduating from the school, in 1976, he was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]] by [[Archbishop]] [[Chrysostomos I of Cyprus|Chrysostomos I]] of Paphos and then entered the Theological Faculty of the University of [[Thessalonica]].

After his graduation from the University of Thessalonica he entered [[New Skete (Athos)|New Skete]] on [[Mount Athos]]  (Greek: Όρος Άθως) where he was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]]. In 1982, he was granted the [[Monastic Ranks|Great Schema]] and was ordained a [[priest]] by Bishop Ardameri of Ierisos and Nicodimos of Mount Athos. In 1983, he was ordained Confessor by Bishop Pavlos of Veroia and Naousa. In 1987, while a resident of [[Vatopedi Monastery (Athos)|Vatopedi Monastery]] he was elected a representative of the Holy Community of Mount Athos. For the period of 1991-1992 he held the position the Chief Overseer of Mount Athos.

In 1992, Fr. Athanasios was asked to return to Cyprus by Archbishop Chrysostomos I. With the blessing of the Vatopedi Monastery, he returned to Cyprus and joined the brotherhood of the Priests' Monastery in Paphos. On [[November 4]], 1993, Fr. Athanasios was elected [[abbot]] of Machaira's Monastery, and on [[November 14]] he was [[enthronement|enthroned]] by Abp. Chrysostomos I. 

On [[February 11]], 1999, after election by the [[clergy]] and people, Fr. Athanasios was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] and enthroned Bishop of Limassol on [[February 14]], 1999.

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{{succession|
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title= Metropolitan of Limassol|
years= 1999-Present|
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==Source==
*[https://churchofcyprus.org.cy/biografiko_mlemesou   Curriculum Vitae of the Metropolitan of Limassol‎]

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]