Metropolitan Anthimos of Alexandroupolis – Thoughts of the heart and gratitudetranslated

Metropolitan of Florini, Prespa and Eordaia, Mr. Irenaios

There are people who pass through our lives and others who, with their presence and words, leave an imprint on us that time does not erase. It often takes years to realize how profoundly their presence has affected our own course. Such a person for me is Metropolitan Anthimos of Alexandroupolis, the Pastor of my special homeland.

I met him when I was a child and he was a deacon, next to our common Elder, the one from Alexandroupolis and later Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, Mr. Anthimos. We learned from him to see the Church not as an idea, but as a way of life. Later several of us received from his hands the grace of the Priesthood. Among us is the current Metropolitan Anthimos.

The years passed. Our Elder was called to assume the pastorate of Thessaloniki and was enthroned on June 18, 2004. On October 6 of the same year, the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece elected the then Protosygello Fr. Anthimos Koukouridis as his successor on the Metropolitan Throne of Alexandroupolis. On October 9, at the Holy Cathedral of Athens, the Episcopal ordination of...