His Eminence Geron Archbishop Demetrios of America

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, elevated the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America to the rank of Gerontiki Eparchy (meaning an eparchy headed by a Geron/Elder hierarch) of the Ecumenical Throne in the person of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, who from now on will be called His Eminence Geron Archbishop Demetrios of America.

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in his letter of November 26, 2015 to the Archbishop notes that the unanimous decision of the Synod was taken in recognition of His Eminence’s invaluable services to the Mother Church, to all of Orthodoxy and to theological literature.

The text of the announcement of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as translated, read:

      The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate met today,

      Thursday, November 26, 2015, under the presidency of His All Holiness for

      its regularly scheduled meeting and examination of the agenda.

      During the meeting, the Holy and Sacred Synod, following the proposal of

      His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, elevated the Holy

      Archdiocese of America to the rank of Gerontiki (high-ranking) Eparchy of

      the Throne, in the person of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America,

      who is to be called from now on His Eminence Geron Archbishop of America.