View source for Dionysios (Psiahas) of Proussa

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'''Metropolitan Dionysios''' (secular name '''Panayotis Psiahas''' or '''Psiachas''', {{lang-el|Παναγιώτης Ψιάχας}}; 1916-2008), QSO, was a [[hierarch]] of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] serving the Church for most of his life in East Asia.  In 1970 he was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] as the first Metropolitan of New Zealand, a position he held for 33 years.

== Biography ==
Dionysios was born in Halkidona in 1916.  Following initial studies in Halkidona, he was educated at the Great Patriarchal Clergy School in Fanar. In 1934 he entered the [[Theological School of Halki]], graduating in 1941. As soon as he graduated he was [[ordination|ordained]] [[deacon]] and served the Tataouli Community of Constantinople. In October 1945 he was ordained [[presbyter]], and was elevated the following month to the office of [[archimandrite]], serving as [[vicar]] and Chief Education Officer of Halki's Holy Theological School.

In October 1947 he was transferred to London, where he served as vicar of the Cathedral of [[Holy Wisdom]].  For twelve years he was the secretary of the [[ecclesiastical court|Ecclesiastical Court]] of the Archdiocese of Thyateira.

In 1959 he was elected by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as Bishop of Nazianzos and designated as assistant to the Archbishop of Australia.  In 1970 the Ecumenical Patriarchate determined to restructure Asia and Oceania by creating a new Metropolis for all parishes in the region outside Australia.  Bishop Dionysios was elected on January 8, 1970, as the first Metropolitan of New Zealand, with his see at Wellington.  In this role, the Metropolitan was responsible for the growth of the church in rapidly growing mission areas such as the Philippines, Indonesia, and Korea.

In 2003, Metropolitan Dionysios retired from active service, and was elected to the titular see of Pisidia.

Metropolitan Dionysios has been honored many times for his national and religious services. In 1995, he was named in the New Zealand Honours List, being awarded the Queens Service Order (Q.S.O.) on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the creation of the [[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand|Metropolis of New Zealand]].

Metropolitan Dionysios died on [[January 6]], 2008.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Ezekiel (Tsoukalas) of Pisidia|Ezekiel (Tsoukalas)]]|
title=Bishop of Nazianzos|
years=1959-1970|
after=[[Paul (DeBallester) of Nazianzos|Paul (DeBallester)]]}}
{{succession|
before=''new creation''|
title=Metropolitan of New Zealand|
years=1970-2003|
after=[[Joseph (Harkiolakis) of New Zealand|Joseph (Harkiolakis)]]}}
{{succession|
before=''unknown''|
title=Metropolitan of Proussa|
years=2003-2008|
after=&mdash;}}
{{end box}}

==External links==
*[http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/resources/hierarchs/constantinople/current.htm#dionysios_metr_prousis Listing] at the Orthodox Research Institute
*[http://www.stuff.co.nz/4350214a11.html "Greek Church farewells a tireless leader," ''The Dominion Post''. January 10, 2008.]
*[http://stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/0a26499.html Photos from the funeral of Metropolitan Dionysios, ''The Dominion Post'', January 11, 2008.]

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of Nazianzos]]
[[Category:Bishops of Wellington]]
[[Category:Bishops of Proussa]]
[[Category:Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Theological School of Halki Graduates]]