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Biography: His Eminence Archbishop-elect Apostolos of Canada

July 22, 2026 · 1 min read

His Eminence, Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey was born Evangelos Koufallakis on the island of Rhodes, Greece. He is the second of four children of Ioannis and Stergia Koufallakis. He completed his primary education on the island of Rhodes. In 1990, he was accepted at the historical Ecclesiastical School of Patmos, also known as Patmeada, where he was first introduced to, and later mastered, Orthodox Byzantine Music and Hymnology.

On April 29, 1993, Evangelos was tonsured a monk at the Holy and Sacred Monastery of Panagia Paramethea, at which time he received the name “Apostolos.” On June 20, 1993, Father Apostolos was ordained to the holy Diaconate by his spiritual father, Metropolitan Apostolos of Rhodes. He served the Metropolis of Rhodes as the deacon to the Metropolitan and after one year received the Offikion of Archdeacon.

In October of 1995, Father Apostolos passed the General Panellenian exams and was accepted at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, in the area of study of Pastoral and Social Theology. During his theological education, Father Apostolos was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on July 28, 1996, and received the Offikion of Archimandrite by…

Source: Site: Metropolis of Toronto  ·  Read the full story →
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💬 Comments (6) 🌐 Show original
T
Timothy Scott
I didn't know he was from Rhodes and studied Byzantine music at Patmos—that explains a lot about how well our services have been chanted since he came. Interesting that his spiritual father and the bishop who tonsured him shared the same name. Looking forward to learning more about his time in New Jersey.
E
Emma Baker
That's interesting about the Byzantine music training on Patmos—I hadn't connected those dots either. Our choir director mentioned last week how much clearer the troparia have sounded since he arrived, especially the ones we always rushed through. Did you catch any of his services back in New Jersey?
M
Mark Johnson
Yes, the Patmos training really shows—those troparia do flow better now without the old rush. I only caught one of his services in New Jersey, at the cathedral last fall, and the chanting stuck with me the whole drive home. Have you noticed any changes in how our choir is practicing the hymns since he got here?
J
Juliana King
The Patmos connection makes total sense now—our director said the same thing about the troparia not feeling rushed anymore. I only caught his Vespers once in New Jersey last summer, and the way he handled the slower hymns really stuck with me too. Have you noticed if he's started teaching any of that Byzantine technique in our youth group sessions yet?
J
Juliana Wilson
His spiritual father being Metropolitan Apostolos of Rhodes really stood out to me too, almost like a quiet sign. I remember hearing him chant the Paschal canon a couple years back in New Jersey and thinking the same thing about the music; it just sits in the ear better. Did you ever catch him at the cathedral there?
S
Sophia Bennett
His spiritual father connection caught my eye too. I haven't been to the cathedral in New Jersey, but I did hear him chant the Paschal canon once at a parish retreat in Chicago and you're right, it really does settle in your ear nicely. Did you get to speak with him after that service?
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