His Eminence, Metropolitan Demetrius of America, was born Victor Kiriacou on November 15/28, 1974, in Toronto, Canada, to pious parents Constantine (who was tonsured a monk with the name Naoum prior to his repose) and Chrysoula Kiriacou from Vevi, Florina, Greece. He is the third of three children.
After spending time in the Holy Land and on Mount Athos, he entered the Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration in 1994 and was tonsured, receiving the name Demetrius (named after his ancestor, the priest Demetrius) in honor of St Demetrius of Thessaloniki. He was ordained to the diaconate in 1999, the priesthood in 2005, and the episcopacy in 2006. In September 2012, he was received into the canonical Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece together with a number of clergy, monastics, and parishes throughout the United States, and elected Bishop of Boston, concelebrating with His Beatitude, Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens and all Greece, and those hierarchs with him on September 8/21, 2012. On September 20/October 3, 2012, the feast of St. Eustathios, he was elected Abbot of Holy Ascension Monastery in Bearsville, NY, in the presence of His Beatitude, Archbishop Kallinikos, and five other hierarchs of the Synod from Greece and America. On February 6/19, 2014, he was elected Metropolitan of America.
On Sunday, April 28/May 11, 2014, His Eminence was enthroned as Metropolitan of America at the Cathedral of Saint Markella in Astoria, New York by His Eminence, Metropolitan Gerontios of Piraeus and Salamis, representing Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens and All Greece and the Holy Synod.
On Tuesday, September 30/October 13th, 2015, the feast of the uncovering of the relics of St John of Shanghai and San Francisco, His Eminence founded the monastery in honor of the same saint, a staunch defender of traditional Orthodoxy. The name of the monastery was chosen by lots, during the Divine Liturgy. The monastery treasures relics, clothing, vestments, personal items, and correspondence of St John, as well as many other holy relics (around 200). It is the residence of His Eminence, who is also functioning as the abbot of the holy monastery.
His Eminence speaks English, Greek, various Slavic languages and some Spanish and French.
This miracle of Saint Spyridon took place in Mandra, Greece in 1926.
It was 12/25 December, 1926. The state Church of Greece adopted the Papal calendar and with the help of the Greek government persecuted all those who did not accept the Papal calendar. The faithful Orthodox Christians of Mandra woke up and headed to their Church to celebrate the Feast of Saint Spyridon. When they reached the Church they saw that the door to the Church had been secured with chains and the faithful could not enter. Before leaving the Church to return to their homes they stuck their candles on the door. As soon as the last person placed his candles on the door
the chains broke and fell. The faithful, confirmed in their Faith, entered the Church and celebrated the Feast of Saint Spyridon.
The miracle was reported the next day by the newspaper Skrip.
Jonesboro is a town located near the Eastern border of Arkansas, with a population of approximately 60,000. From a human standpoint, it’s not the most likely candidate for a traditional Orthodox mission, but for an Orthodox Christian who orders his priorities around Christ and His Church, it makes perfect sense. Read more...
2023 Youth Conference
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Q. Can you tell me what the two-headed snake cane the Greek Bishop is walking with represents? What does it mean?
-V.T.
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