Demetrios | |
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Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago | |
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Archdiocese | America |
Metropolis | Chicago |
See | Mokissos |
Term ended | Incumbent |
Orders | |
Ordination | October 1989 |
Personal details | |
Birth name | Demetrios Kantzavelos |
Born | 1962 Chicago, Illinois |
Denomination | Greek Orthodox |
Parents | Merope (Kossinas) and Christ Kantzavelos |
Alma mater | Hellenic College/Holy Cross |
Bishop Demetrios (born Demetri Kantzavelos,Greek: Δημήτριος Καντζαβέλος) is the auxiliary bishop of Mokissos of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago which includes parishes in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri and Iowa. The Metropolis, whose offices are located in Chicago, Illinois, consists of 58 parishes which minister to the needs of approximately 250,000 Greek Orthodox faithful.
Named as “one of the twelve people to watch” by The Chicago Sun-Times (January 5, 2003), Bishop Demetrios worked to improve relationships between Chicago’s Greek Orthodox Community with other local Orthodox bodies, as well as other Christian and non-Christian groups.
A native of Chicago born to first-generation Greek-Americans, Merope (Kossivas) and the late Christ J. Kantzavelos, Demetrios grew up as an active participant in the city's Assumption Greek Orthodox Community. He went on to attend Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he obtained his graduate divinity degree “with high distinction” in 1987. Following graduation, he pursued post-graduate doctoral work in the philosophy program of Chicago's Loyola University, concentrating in the area of metaphysics.
Having received monastic tonsure, Demetrios was ordained to the Diaconate October 1989. In 1992, he was ordained to the priesthood, and in 1995 elevated to the rank of Archimandrite, by Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago. Since then he served as assistant and deacon to the bishop, as associate pastor of Annunciation Cathedral of Chicago, and as Chancellor of the Metropolis of Chicago.