Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago
The Metropolis of Chicago is an ecclesiastical territory, a metropolis, large diocese, of the Greek Orthodox Church in the North-Central Midwest, United States, with its see city of Chicago. It is part of the Archdiocese of America and is led by a metropolitan who serves as the priest of the mother church, Annunciation Cathedral in the City of Chicago.
Metropolis of Chicago | |
---|---|
Personnel | |
Metropolitan | Nathanael (Symeonides) |
Cathedral | Annunciation Cathedral of Chicago |
Religious Brothers & Sisters | n/a |
Geography | |
Location | Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota Northern Indiana, and Eastern Missouri, United States |
Vital Statistics | |
Total Parishes | 61 |
Total Orthodox Population | n/a |
Total Population | abt 26,000,000 |
Website: | http://chicago.goarch.org |
On February 7, 2018, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate unanimously elected Nathanael Symeonides as the Metropolitan of Chicago, succeeding Metropolitan Iakovos. He was ordained a Bishop on March 17, 2018 in the Holy Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New York, and enthroned on March 24, 2018 in the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Chicago) [1].
The Metropolis of Chicago consists of thirty-four parishes in Illinois, with another twenty-four parishes in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, northern Indiana, and eastern and central Missouri. The general offices of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago are located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.
History
The Metropolis of Chicago itself traces its explicit roots to 1923, when Rev. Philaretos Johannides became the city’s first Greek Orthodox bishop. Nearly twenty years later, Chicago became the "2nd Diocesan District" of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North & South America. That district would continue to coordinate the ecclesial growth of this major immigrant, industrial, and rail center on the southwestern shores of Lake Michigan.
A number of distinguished bishops served the diocesan community, including Meletios, Ezekiel and the late Timotheos of Rodostolon. Each brought unique talents to Chicago's Greek Orthodox and larger communities. This Episcopal ministry excelled with the singular dedication of Chicago's Metropolitan Iakovos, who ministered for thirty eight years. A studied and accomplished liturgist, Athens-born Metropolitan Iakovos made a profound imprint upon the character of the Midwest’s Greek Orthodox communities.
On March 17, 2018, a new chapter in the life and history of the Metropolis of Chicago was inaugurated with the ordination of its next Archbishop, Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. A dedicated and energetic servant of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the faithful of the Metropolis are poised to enter into a new period of growth under the guidance of her new Metropolitan.
The majority of Metropolis parishes are concentrated in the Chicago metropolitan area, where immigrants arrived as early as the 19th century. Hence the older parishes are to be found primarily in the older Midwestern industrialized cities, while newer congregations have followed demographic patterns, locating in suburban and even rural/missionary contexts. Within recent decades, Metropolis churches have been built integrating traditional Byzantine forms; earlier structures, in contrast, often were acquired from other faith groups [2].
Parishes
Illinois
Aurora – St. Athanasios Church
Champaign – Three Hierarchs Church
Chicago (Hegewisch) – Assumption Church
Chicago – Annunciation Cathedral
Chicago – Assumption Church
Chicago – Holy Trinity Church
Chicago – St. Andrew Church
Chicago – St. Basil Church
Chicago – St. Demetrios Church
Chicago – St. George Church
Chicago – St. Nicholas Albanian Church
DeKalb – St. George Church
Decatur – Annunciation Church
Des Plaines – St. John the Baptist Church
East Moline – Assumption Church
Elgin – St. Sophia Church
Elmhurst – St. Demetrios Church
Glenview – SS. Peter and Paul Church
Joliet – All Saints Church
Justice – Holy Cross Church
Kankakee – Annunciation Church
Libertyville – St. Demetrios Church
Lincolnshire – Ascension of Our Lord Church
Niles – Holy Taxiarchai-St. Haralambos
Oak Lawn – Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Homer Glen – Assumption Greek Orthodox Church (Formerly Olympia Fields)
Palatine – St. Nectarios Church
Palos Heights – St. Spyridon Church
Palos Hills – SS. Constantine & Helen Church
Peoria – All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
Rock Island – St. George Church
Rockford – SS. Constantine & Helen Church
Springfield – St. Anthony Church
Swansea – SS. Constantine & Helen Church
Westchester – Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church
Indiana
Hammond – Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
Merrillville – Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church
Schereville – Saint George Greek Orthodox Church
South Bend – St. Andrew Church
Valparaiso – St. Iakovos Church
Iowa
Cedar Rapids – St. John the Baptist Church
Des Moines – St. George Church
Dubuque – St. Elias the Prophet Church
Mason City – Holy Transfiguration Church
Sioux City – Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Waterloo – St. Demetrios Church
Minnesota
Duluth – Twelve Holy Apostles Church
Minneapolis – St. Mary's Greek Orthodox Church
Rochester – SS. Anargyroi Church
St. Paul – St. George Church
Missouri
Columbia – St. Luke the Evangelist Church
St. Louis – St. Nicholas Church
Town and Country – Assumption Greek Orthodox Church
Wisconsin
Appleton – St. Nicholas Church
Fond du Lac – Holy Trinity Church
Madison – Assumption Church
Milwaukee – Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
Racine – Dormition of the Theotokos Church
Sheboygan – St. Spyridon Church
Wauwatosa – SS. Constantine and Helen Church
Monasteries
Illinois – Holy Transfiguration
Wisconsin – St. John Chrysostomos
References
- "Metropolitan of Chicago". Metropolis of Chicago. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
- "About the Metropolis". Metropolis of Chicago. Retrieved 2019-07-30.