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Sotirios (sometimes ''Soterios'') was born in Arta, Greece on [[July 17]], 1929. After graduating from high school in Arta, he graduated from the Theological School of the University of Athens in 1951. He then served as an army officer for two and a half years, and then as a preacher and [[catechist]] for two years in the middle and high school.
On [[June 26]], 1956, he became a [[monk]] at the Lemonos Monastery in Lesvos and three days later was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[deacon|diaconate]]. On [[June 12]], 1960, he was ordained to the [[priest]]hood and later that same year he became an [[archimandrite]]. From 1965 to 1968 he served as a [[chaplain]] in the Greek army. Later in 1968, he was appointed to be the [[chancellor ]] of the Archdiocese of Athens and also dean of the cathedral in Athens. In 1973, he volunteered to serve as dean of the Church of the Holy Mother in Papagou, Athens.
In November 1975, Sotirios volunteered to serve the Church in Korea and, with permission from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, became dean of St. Nicholas Church in Seoul. In 1986, he was appointed to be the chairman of the Orthodox Eastern Mission. As chairman, he established churches in Busan, Inchon, Jeonju, Palang-ri, the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior in Kapyung, a temporary chapel in Ilsan, along with missions in Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, and India. In 1982, he established the Saint Nicholas Theological Seminary in Seoul for the purpose of training Asian believers for the ministry.
