Ecumenical Patriarchate Elects Archim. Dionysios Anagnostopoulos to Episcopacy

Archimandrite Dionysios Anagnostopoulos has been elected to serve as an auxiliary bishop in the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago. Photo: Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago

ISTANBUL — The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople announced Monday, March 2, 2026, that the Holy Synod, convened under the chairmanship of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, elected the Very Rev. Archimandrite Dionysios Anagnostopoulos to the Holy Episcopacy.

Following canonical voting in the Patriarchal Church, Archimandrite Dionysios was chosen from the triumvirate submitted by the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and given the title Bishop-elect Dionysios of Zenoupolis. He will serve as Auxiliary Bishop to Metr. Nathanael of Chicago.

The three-person list Bishop-elect Dionysios was chosen from also included Fr. Makarios Niakoros and Fr. Nektarios Cottros.

The Small and Great Messages were delivered during the session, and the Bishop-elect received the congratulations of the Patriarch, the Synodal Hierarchs, and members of the Patriarchal Court.

In a statement, Bishop-elect Dionysios expressed “profound gratitude” to Almighty God and thanked the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Synod for their trust. “I receive this election not as a distinction, but as a Cross,” he said, pledging to serve with humility and preserve the unity of the Church.

As reported by the Orthodox Observer, Bishop-elect Dionysios was born in Sparta, Greece, and he immigrated to the United States in 1986. He holds degrees in computer engineering and theology, including graduate studies at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, and pursued doctoral work at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Ordained in 2003 and elevated to Archimandrite in 2006, he has served parishes in New York and, since 2021, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Elmhurst, Illinois. He was appointed Chancellor of the Metropolis of Chicago in January 2026 following the repose of Bp. Timothy of Hexamilion.

Metr. Nathanael welcomed the election, calling it “a great blessing to the Metropolis of Chicago and to the wider Archdiocese.” The episcopal ordination is scheduled for later this month.

Meanwhile, Metr. Nathanael recently joined Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago on a fraternal pilgrimage to Constantinople and Rome. His Eminence celebrated the Sunday of Orthodoxy at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, commemorating the restoration of holy icons. Cardinal Cupich also participated in the icon procession.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the Ecumenical Patriarchate had announced the new composition of its Synod, including Metr. Constantine of Denver for the first time since his election.

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