His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim in Australia

A formal reception was held at Kythera House on 20 October 2012 to welcome Metropolitan Seraphim (Stergioulis) of Kythera and Antikythera on his first visit to Australia.  His Eminence is accompanied by Father Petros Kasimatis and the Mayor of Kythera, Theodore Koukoulis.

His Eminence was born on December 27, 1950 in Vragkiana, Karditsa in western Thessaly, Greece. After completing his basic education he studied theology from 1972 to 1976 at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and then continued with postgraduate studies from 1976 to 1978 at the University's Department of Systematic Theology.  He, in fact became a deacon in 1971 and received the name Seraphim.

Between 1971 and 1974 he served as editor of the magazine Seraphim, the Hieromartyr of Phanarion, inspired by the Hieromonk Seraphim, Bishop of the Phanar, who famously refused to accept Islam and was beaten and impaled by the Ottoman Turks in 1601.

His Eminence was ordained a priest in 1981 and then elevated to archimandrite.  From 1979 to 2005, Seraphim served as a preacher with the Metropolis of Hydra, Spetses and Aegina.

In 1981, Father Seraphim spent three years on sabbatical leave at Mount Athos to undertake research on various issues, particularly the Neptic aspects of Orthodox monasticism which are characterised by sober-minded vigilance,  watchfulness and purity of thought.    His work was published in a three-volume Anthology of Philokalia. 

On 2 July 2005 Seraphim was consecrated a bishop in a service conducted by then Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens. He was then enthroned as Metropoliti (a title equivalent to archbishop of an ecclesiastical province or metropolis) of Kythera and Antikythera  on 30 July 2005. 

On the occasion of His Eminence’s first visit to Australia, the President of the Kytherian Association, Victor Kepreotis, welcomed the Metropolitan as well as Father Petros and Mayor Koukoulis, to the Kytherian Association’s new “spiritual centre” in Sydney.   With over seventy friends, members and guests, in attendance, including Mayor Nickolas Varvaris and Councillor Nicholas Aroney of Kogarah Council and ex-Wollahra Mayor John Comino, Dr Kepreotis praised the work of the Metropolitan and wished him an enjoyable time in Australia.

Metropolitan Seraphim expressed delight at the opportunity afforded to him to visit Australia and to meet the Kytherians of the diaspora.  His Eminence also thanked the well-known benefactor, George Hatziplis, for arranging the visit and indicated that he plans to visit Brisbane, Canberra and Gosford as part of his reaching out to Kytherians downunder.

Mayor Koukoulis also thanked those who attended the reception and commented that it is a truism that the Kytherians in the diaspora love their island even more than the locals.

After the formal speeches, His Eminence and the other guests and members enjoyed the small delicacies and sweets that were laid out by the Association and were able to mingle with members and even renew some old acquaintances.

We wish His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim and Father Petros and Mayor Koukoulis a most satisfying and enjoyable stay in Australia.

It is the Association’s pleasure to welcome them to Sydney.

George Vardas