Chrysostomos II Kioussis
Encyclopedia
Chrysostomos II born Athanassios Kioussis (Αθανάσιος Κιούσης), was the Archbishop of Athens and of all Greece of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece from 1986 until his death.
of Megara
(also known as Kriekouki) where he spent his childhood. Eventually his family moved to the city of Lavrio. While a student, he would frequent around many churches and monasteries and, ultimately, grow fond of Byzantine music
. Quite frequently, during the great holidays of the Orthodox calendar
, he would travel from Lavrio to Erythres in order to chant at his village’s church where the Orthodox Traditionalists would congregate and conduct the Divine services (at times, without even the presence of a priest, for they were small in number in comparison to the needs of the parishes). He completed his secondary education at the age of 17.
Fulfilling parental wishes, he sat for the examinations at the Hellenic Military Academy
where he would embark on a career in the military. However, he became inflicted by pleuritis which later transformed into a lighter form of tuberculosis
. This became the reason for him to follow his own dream instead of his father’s and take the road towards monasticism. He spent the remaining time recuperating and studying on his own at his own home during the Greco-Italian War
as well as the later Axis Occupation of Greece.
under the abbacy of the current, at the time, Archimandrite Kallistos Makris, who later became the Metropolitan of Corinth. During the Greek Civil War
, the monastery was caught in the crossfire, but Kioussis survived. He was ordained a priest in 1947 by the Bishop of the Cyclades
, Germanos, and due to his infirmary he briefly led a private life while servicing for a couple of years the Faithful of Erythrai and Villia. Wearing the great schema, he was tonsured into the Great Schema at the Monastery of Kosmosotiros (World-Savior) in 1948 by the Gerontas
Theokletos Darademas.
During the years 1951-1953 the persecution of the Old Calenderists by the established Church under Archbishop Spyridon broke out. The hierarchs were exiled. The churches were shut down and priests were captured and defrocked while expelled and scorned by the police authorities. On the eve of the Annunciation
, the Bishop of the Cyclades, Germanos, died. Archbishop Spyridon forbade his ecclesiastic burial and deeming him an unworthy successor of Caiaphas, he ordered that the corpse of the deceased be guarded at the Saint Helen clinic (where he was transferred from jail while breathing his last) as to deter the prospect of conducting a burial service by a True Orthodox priest. During the same period, then Archimandrite
(now Archbishop) Chrysostomos Kiousis was secretly hiding as to avoid being captured and defrocked by police authorities, by conducting liturgies in country chapels or in the apartments of faithful Christians who had transformed them into catacombs and by moving around only during the night and with great caution. In 1951, in one of those catacombs, he conducted a Vigil to the Annunciation of the Theotokos
along with the Archmandrite Petros Astyfides (later Bishop of Astoria
, USA) in memory of the Bishop Germanos. Suddenly, at 2 am, there was a knock on the door! Fortunately, it wasn’t the police. They were members of the Youth branch of the Genuine Orthodox Church who were seeking a priest to secretly conduct a burial ceremony since they had already convinced the guard of the deceased to “shut his eyes.” Archimandrite Petros continued the Vigil while Archimandrite Chrysostomos went to the funeral of the monk-priest. While the funeral was reaching its end, the police guard who was faithfully participating, warned that the time had come for him to be relieved. Indeed, while the priest and his entourage were heading for their car, he was noticed by the oncoming police guards. Thus a police pursuit broke out. However, Pericles, who was the priest’s experienced driver, drove through the intricate streets of Athens and managed to escape and, thus, keep Archimandrite Chrysostomos from being captured and defrocked.
In 1956, he assumed the responsibilities of the General Secretary of the Church Committee which had taken over the leadership of the Church after the passing of Chrysostomos (former Archbishop of Florina
). With the authorization of the Church Committee he traveled by train to Germany and France along with the monk-priest Akakios Pappas (current Metropolitan of Attica
and Diavleia) in order to come to an agreement with the Bishops of the Russian Diaspora, Alexander and John (Maximovich), with the goal of consecrating Bishops for the Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece from the Russians but without ever accomplishing that goal, for they were referred to the Metropolitan of the Russian Diaspora in America, Anastassy. Initially, from the entire clergy body (namely 105 clergymen), he was voted to the Episcopal rank along with his co-presbyters Akakios Pappas and Chrysostomos Naslimis. He worked diligently until the agreement with the Russian Diaspora in America regarding the consecration of both the Gerontas Akakios Pappas and the remaining ordained archpriests was achieved. After that, he spent his private time at the Holy Monastery of the Panachrandou at Megara, which he himself founded, during which he would occasionally offer his services at the church as a secretary.
In 1971, he was consecrated the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki
while, simultaneously, undertaking the pastorship of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and working hard with all his might on the organization of his Diocese until 1986 when he was elected the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece - a position which he held until his death while presiding over the twelve member Holy Synod of the True Orthodox Church.
Archbishop Chrysostomos II is the first Archbishop of the G.O.C. who received official recognition from the highest authority of his country (in the person of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Konstantinos Stephanopoulos on 8-6-1998).
Early life
Chrysostomos II was born on October 8, 1920 at ErythresErythres
Erythres known as Κριεκούκι Kriekouki "red-head" in Arvanitika, perhaps named after an Arvanite leader; ) is a village and a former municipality in the northernmost part of West Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Mandra-Eidyllia, of which it is a...
of Megara
Megara
Megara is an ancient city in Attica, Greece. It lies in the northern section of the Isthmus of Corinth opposite the island of Salamis, which belonged to Megara in archaic times, before being taken by Athens. Megara was one of the four districts of Attica, embodied in the four mythic sons of King...
(also known as Kriekouki) where he spent his childhood. Eventually his family moved to the city of Lavrio. While a student, he would frequent around many churches and monasteries and, ultimately, grow fond of Byzantine music
Byzantine music
Byzantine music is the music of the Byzantine Empire composed to Greek texts as ceremonial, festival, or church music. Greek and foreign historians agree that the ecclesiastical tones and in general the whole system of Byzantine music is closely related to the ancient Greek system...
. Quite frequently, during the great holidays of the Orthodox calendar
Orthodox calendar
Orthodox calendar may refer to:*Hebrew calendar used by Orthodox Judaism*Eastern Orthodox Church liturgical calendar...
, he would travel from Lavrio to Erythres in order to chant at his village’s church where the Orthodox Traditionalists would congregate and conduct the Divine services (at times, without even the presence of a priest, for they were small in number in comparison to the needs of the parishes). He completed his secondary education at the age of 17.
Fulfilling parental wishes, he sat for the examinations at the Hellenic Military Academy
Hellenic Military Academy
The Evelpidon Military Academy is the oldest tertiary level educational institution in Greece. It was founded in 1828 in Nafplio by Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first Governor of the modern Greek State....
where he would embark on a career in the military. However, he became inflicted by pleuritis which later transformed into a lighter form of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. This became the reason for him to follow his own dream instead of his father’s and take the road towards monasticism. He spent the remaining time recuperating and studying on his own at his own home during the Greco-Italian War
Greco-Italian War
The Greco-Italian War was a conflict between Italy and Greece which lasted from 28 October 1940 to 23 April 1941. It marked the beginning of the Balkans Campaign of World War II...
as well as the later Axis Occupation of Greece.
Priesthood and episcopacy
Right after the liberation of Greece, he was tonsured into the male monastery of the Evangelist of Athikion at CorinthCorinth
Corinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
under the abbacy of the current, at the time, Archimandrite Kallistos Makris, who later became the Metropolitan of Corinth. During the Greek Civil War
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
, the monastery was caught in the crossfire, but Kioussis survived. He was ordained a priest in 1947 by the Bishop of the Cyclades
Cyclades
The Cyclades is a Greek island group in the Aegean Sea, south-east of the mainland of Greece; and a former administrative prefecture of Greece. They are one of the island groups which constitute the Aegean archipelago. The name refers to the islands around the sacred island of Delos...
, Germanos, and due to his infirmary he briefly led a private life while servicing for a couple of years the Faithful of Erythrai and Villia. Wearing the great schema, he was tonsured into the Great Schema at the Monastery of Kosmosotiros (World-Savior) in 1948 by the Gerontas
Gerontas
Family of the Athenian nobility of the late Byzantine and Ottoman years. The name of the family seems to originate from the usual title of the members of the local governing councils of the Greek communities during late medieval and early Ottoman years .Several Prokritoi of Athens during the...
Theokletos Darademas.
During the years 1951-1953 the persecution of the Old Calenderists by the established Church under Archbishop Spyridon broke out. The hierarchs were exiled. The churches were shut down and priests were captured and defrocked while expelled and scorned by the police authorities. On the eve of the Annunciation
Annunciation
The Annunciation, also referred to as the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary or Annunciation of the Lord, is the Christian celebration of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary, that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus the Son of God. Gabriel told Mary to name her...
, the Bishop of the Cyclades, Germanos, died. Archbishop Spyridon forbade his ecclesiastic burial and deeming him an unworthy successor of Caiaphas, he ordered that the corpse of the deceased be guarded at the Saint Helen clinic (where he was transferred from jail while breathing his last) as to deter the prospect of conducting a burial service by a True Orthodox priest. During the same period, then Archimandrite
Archimandrite
The title Archimandrite , primarily used in the Eastern Orthodox and the Eastern Catholic churches, originally referred to a superior abbot whom a bishop appointed to supervise...
(now Archbishop) Chrysostomos Kiousis was secretly hiding as to avoid being captured and defrocked by police authorities, by conducting liturgies in country chapels or in the apartments of faithful Christians who had transformed them into catacombs and by moving around only during the night and with great caution. In 1951, in one of those catacombs, he conducted a Vigil to the Annunciation of the Theotokos
Theotokos
Theotokos is the Greek title of Mary, the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches. Its literal English translations include God-bearer and the one who gives birth to God. Less literal translations include Mother of God...
along with the Archmandrite Petros Astyfides (later Bishop of Astoria
Astoria, Queens
Astoria is a neighborhood in the northwestern corner of the borough of Queens in New York City. Located in Community Board 1, Astoria is bounded by the East River and is adjacent to three other Queens neighborhoods: Long Island City, Sunnyside , and Woodside...
, USA) in memory of the Bishop Germanos. Suddenly, at 2 am, there was a knock on the door! Fortunately, it wasn’t the police. They were members of the Youth branch of the Genuine Orthodox Church who were seeking a priest to secretly conduct a burial ceremony since they had already convinced the guard of the deceased to “shut his eyes.” Archimandrite Petros continued the Vigil while Archimandrite Chrysostomos went to the funeral of the monk-priest. While the funeral was reaching its end, the police guard who was faithfully participating, warned that the time had come for him to be relieved. Indeed, while the priest and his entourage were heading for their car, he was noticed by the oncoming police guards. Thus a police pursuit broke out. However, Pericles, who was the priest’s experienced driver, drove through the intricate streets of Athens and managed to escape and, thus, keep Archimandrite Chrysostomos from being captured and defrocked.
In 1956, he assumed the responsibilities of the General Secretary of the Church Committee which had taken over the leadership of the Church after the passing of Chrysostomos (former Archbishop of Florina
Florina
Florina is a town and municipality in mountainous northwestern Macedonia, Greece. Its motto is, 'Where Greece begins'. It is also the Metropolitan seat for the region. It lies in the central part of Florina peripheral unit, of which it is the capital. Florina belongs to the periphery of West...
). With the authorization of the Church Committee he traveled by train to Germany and France along with the monk-priest Akakios Pappas (current Metropolitan of Attica
Attica
Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea...
and Diavleia) in order to come to an agreement with the Bishops of the Russian Diaspora, Alexander and John (Maximovich), with the goal of consecrating Bishops for the Genuine Orthodox Church of Greece from the Russians but without ever accomplishing that goal, for they were referred to the Metropolitan of the Russian Diaspora in America, Anastassy. Initially, from the entire clergy body (namely 105 clergymen), he was voted to the Episcopal rank along with his co-presbyters Akakios Pappas and Chrysostomos Naslimis. He worked diligently until the agreement with the Russian Diaspora in America regarding the consecration of both the Gerontas Akakios Pappas and the remaining ordained archpriests was achieved. After that, he spent his private time at the Holy Monastery of the Panachrandou at Megara, which he himself founded, during which he would occasionally offer his services at the church as a secretary.
In 1971, he was consecrated the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
while, simultaneously, undertaking the pastorship of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and working hard with all his might on the organization of his Diocese until 1986 when he was elected the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece - a position which he held until his death while presiding over the twelve member Holy Synod of the True Orthodox Church.
Archbishop Chrysostomos II is the first Archbishop of the G.O.C. who received official recognition from the highest authority of his country (in the person of the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Konstantinos Stephanopoulos on 8-6-1998).
External links
- http://www.ecclesiagoc.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=83%3A2010-09-20-05-20-12&catid=36&Itemid=64&lang=en
- http://portal-credo.ru/site/?act=news&id=79773
- http://www.ekklisiastikos.com/2010/09/blog-post.html
- http://www.hotca.org/
- http://portal-credo.ru/site/?act=rating&id=7
- http://orthodoxwiki.org/Genuine_Orthodox_Church_of_Greece_%28Florinite%29