View source for Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago

{{Short description|Metropolis of the Greek Orthodox Church}}
{{distinguish|Chicago Metropolitan Area}}
{{Infobox diocese
| titleoverride     = 
| archbishopric     = 
| bishopric         = 
| border            = 
| jurisdiction      = Metropolis
| name              = Chicago
| latin             = <!-- Latin name of the diocese (or archdiocese) -->
| local             = <!-- Name in the native language --> 
| image             = [[File:Chicago - Annunciation Cathedral - 1.jpg|upright=1.2|Annunciation Cathedral|200px]]
| image_size        = 
| image_alt         = 
| caption           = 
| coat              = <!-- Coat of arms file name (excluding File: prefix) -->
| coat_size         = 
| coat_alt          = 
| coat_caption      =
| flag              = <!-- Flag file name (excluding File: prefix) -->
| flag_size         = 
| flag_alt          = 
| incumbent         = 
| incumbent_note    = 
| style             = 
<!---- Locations ---->
| country           = [[United States of America]]
| territory         = [[Illinois]], [[Wisconsin]], [[Iowa]], [[Minnesota]] [[Northern Indiana]], and [[Missouri|Eastern Missouri]], [[United States]]
| province          = 
| metropolitan      = 
| archdeaconries    = 
| deaneries         = 
| subdivisions      = 
| headquarters      = 
| coordinates       = <!-- Use {{coord}} -->
| residence         = 
<!---- Statistics ---->
| area_km2          = <!-- Area in square kilometers, automatically converted -->
| area_sqmi         = <!-- Area in square miles, automatically converted -->
| area_footnotes    = 
| population        =~250,000 <ref>{{Cite web |last=Pappas |first=Gregory |date=2015-11-29 |title=Chicago's Greek Orthodox Metropolis Wants the World to Recognize Annihilation of Middle East's Christianity as "Genocide" |url=https://pappaspost.com/chicagos-greek-orthodox-metropolis-wants-the-world-to-recognize-annihilation-of-middle-easts-christianity-as-genocide/ |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=The Pappas Post |language=en-us}}</ref>
| population_as_of  = 
| catholics         = <!-- Number of Catholics in the diocese -->
| catholics_percent = 

| parishes          = 61
| congregations     = <!-- Number of congregations in the diocese -->
| schools           = <!-- Number of church supported schools in the diocese -->
| members           = <!-- Number of members in the diocese -->
<!---- Information ---->
| denomination      = 
| sui_iuris_church  = <!-- sui iuris Church, e.g., [[Latin Church]] or [[Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church]] -->
| rite              = <!-- e.g., [[Roman Rite]] -->
| established       = 
| dissolved         = 
| cathedral         = [[Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Chicago)|Annunciation Cathedral of Chicago]]
| cocathedral       = 
| patron            = <!-- Patron saint(s) of the diocese (or archdiocese) -->
| patron_title      = <!-- Use to override the default label "Patron saint" -->
| priests           = 
| language          = 
| calendar          = 
| music             = 
| first_incumbent   = 
| final_incumbent   =
| archdiocese       = 
| diocese           = 
<!---- Current leadership ---->
| parent_church     = 
| pope              = 
| patriarch         = [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople]]
| major_archbishop  = [[Archbishop Elpidophoros of America]]
| bishop            = [[Nathanael (Symeonides)|Nathanael&nbsp;(Symeonides)]]<!-- Name and title of the current ordinary of the diocese -->
| bishop_title      = Metropolitan<!-- Type of ordinary: i.e. Bishop or Archbishop. Default is Bishop -->
| metro_archbishop  = <!-- Name of the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province -->
| bishop of the archdiocese = <!-- Name of the Bishop of Archdiocese [not the Archbishop] -->
| coadjutor         = 
| suffragans        = <!-- List most senior first (usually reckoned by date of consecration); use | suffragan = for one -->
| auxiliary_bishops = <!-- List most senior first (usually reckoned by date of consecration) -->
| apostolic_admin   = 
| vicar_general     = 
| episcopal_vicar   =
| judicial_vicar    =
| dean              = 
| archdeacons       = <!-- List most senior first (usually reckoned by date of first collation); use | archdeacon = for one-->
| emeritus_bishops  = <!-- List most senior first (usually reckoned by date of consecration) -->
<!---- Map ---->
| map               = 
| map_size          = 
| map_alt           = 
| map_caption       = 
<!---- Website ---->
| website           = https://chicago.goarch.org/
| footnotes         = 
}}

The '''Metropolis of Chicago''' ({{langx|el|Ιερά Μητρόπολις Σικάγου}}) is a [[metropolis (religious jurisdiction)|metropolis]] of the [[Greek Orthodox Church]], part of the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]], in the North-Central [[Midwest]], [[United States]], with its [[Episcopal see|see]] city of [[Chicago]].  The [[mother church]] of the Metropolis is [[Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Chicago)|Annunciation Cathedral]] in [[Chicago]]. As of 2018, its current bishop is metropolitan [[Nathanael Symeonides]].

==History==
The Metropolis of Chicago traces its roots to 1923, when Rev. Philaret Ioannides 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]]. Some of the first Greek Orthodox parishes were founded in Chicago.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Mission of the Greek Orthodox Parish in America - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - Orthodox Church |url=https://www.goarch.org/en/-/the-mission-of-the-greek-orthodox-parish-in-america |website=Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America |access-date=11 March 2025}}</ref>

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 [[Iakovos Garmatis|Metropolitan Iakovos]] made a profound imprint upon the character of the Midwest’s [[Greek Orthodox Church|Greek Orthodox]] communities.

On {{date|February 7, 2018}}, the [[Holy Synod]] of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]] unanimously elected [[Nathanael Symeonides]] as the metropolitan of Chicago, succeeding [[Iakovos Garmatis|Metropolitan Iakovos]]. He was ordained a bishop on {{date|March 17, 2018}}, in the [[Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity]], [[New York City]], and enthroned on {{date|March 24, 2018}} in the [[Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Chicago)]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chicago.goarch.org/metropolitan/|title=Metropolitan of Chicago {{!}} The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago|website=Metropolis of Chicago|language=en|access-date=2022-03-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221161109/https://chicago.goarch.org/metropolitan/|archive-date=2022-02-21|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.

==Organization==
The majority of metropolis parishes are concentrated in the Chicago metropolitan area, where immigrants arrived as early as the 19th century. The older parishes are found primarily in the older Midwestern industrialized cities, while newer congregations have followed demographic patterns in suburban and even rural/missionary contexts. Within recent decades, Metropolis churches have been built integrating traditional [[Byzantine architecture|Byzantine]] forms; earlier structures, in contrast, often were acquired from other faith groups.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chicago.goarch.org/about-the-metropolis|title=History and Mission {{!}} The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago|website=Metropolis of Chicago|language=en|access-date=2022-03-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221120241/https://chicago.goarch.org/about-metropolis/|archive-date=2022-02-21|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Bishops==
{{Incomplete list|date=January 2025}}
*Bishop [[Philaret (Ioannides)]] 1923 &ndash; 1930
*Bishop Gerasimos of Chicago 1943 &ndash; 1954
*Bishop [[Aimilianos (Laloussis)]]  1960 
*Bishop [[Thimotheos (Haloftis)]] 1967 - 1977
*Metropolitan [[Iakovos (Garmatis)]] 1977 &ndash; 2017 
*Metropolitan [[Nathanael (Symeonides)]] 2018 &ndash; Present

==Parishes==
{{See also|List of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in the United States}}
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]]. The diocese also runs two monasteries, the Holy Monastery of Transfiguration in [[Harvard, Illinois|Harvard]], [[Illinois]] and the Holy Convent of Saint John Chrysostom in [[Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin|Pleasant Prairie]], [[Wisconsin]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Monasteries - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - Orthodox Church |url=https://www.goarch.org/monasteries |website=Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America |access-date=29 January 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Greeks in Chicago]]
*[[Diocese of the Midwest]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Religion in Chicago}}
{{Dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate}}

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{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Dioceses of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]]
[[Category:Greek-American culture in Chicago]]
[[Category:Eastern Orthodoxy in Illinois]]