His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago
Consecrated: March 17, 2018 | Patronal Feast: April 22
His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael (Symeonides) of Chicago is of Pontic and Asia-Minor ancestry, and was born in Thessaloniki, Greece (1978). He is the third child of Irene and Vasilios Symeonides. He received his early education from the Greek American Institute of the Zoodochos Peghe Parish of the Bronx, NY. He later graduated from Hellenic College (BA, 2000) and from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (MDiv, 2003). He earned an STM (2003) in Christian Ethics and a ThD (2007) in Bioethics from Boston University. Fr. Nathanael has also studied the History and Ethics of Public Health at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
He has served as a guest professor of Orthodox Christian Ethics and Bioethics at Fordham University, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, and Saint Vladimir Theological School. He has authored numerous articles in theology and bioethics. He has delivered a series of presentations to clergy of the Archdiocese and to regional pan-Orthodox clergy associations.
Metropolitan Nathanael is a brother of the historic monastery of St. George Epanosifis in Crete, Greece. He was ordained a deacon (2003) and a presbyter (2010) by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America. Prior to his ordination to the episcopacy, His Eminence served as the Deacon to Metropolitan Methodios (2003-2006); Deacon to the Archbishop (2006-2010); presiding priest of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, NYC (2010-2013), and interim-pastor of the Holy Resurrection Church of Brookville, NY and the Saints Constantine and Helen Cathedral of Brooklyn, NY. As a parish priest in Manhattan, Metropolitan Nathanael developed a unique urban ministry, Orthodox Professionals in Action (OPA), which provided over 400 young professionals the opportunity to minister to the most vulnerable in society.
From September 2013-March 2018, His Eminence served as the Director of the Office of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. In this capacity, he managed and cultivated relationships between the Archdiocese and numerous religious organizations, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and Permanent Missions to the United Nations. He also served as Director of the Archdiocesan Committee on Science and Technology (AACST).
His Eminence coordinated the Archdiocesan commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the March on Selma (2015), and represented the Archdiocese on the National Council of Churches (NCC) Special Task Force to End Racism in America. He serves as a member of a special non-partisan and interreligious working group in Washington, D.C., which seeks to advance religious freedom and pluralism in the Middle East. He is also a member of Tanenbaum’s Communications Committee. During his tenure at the Archdiocese, Metropolitan Nathanael also served as the Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA and on the Assembly’s Secretariat. His Eminence also established a Graduate Fellowship Program that provided graduate and post-graduate students the opportunity to serve the Church at the United Nations.
In 2016, Metropolitan Nathanael attended the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church and assisted the press office of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
On February 7, 2018, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate unanimously elected him Metropolitan of Chicago, succeeding His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of blessed-memory. He was ordained a Bishop on March 17th in the Holy Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New York, and will be enthroned on March 24th in the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation, Chicago.
Rev. Fr. Andrew G. Georganas, Spiritual Advisor
Fr. Andrew was born in Arlington Heights, IL on March 23, 1971. As an infant he lived in Des Plaines, IL. He was raised in Wheaton, IL and graduated from Wheaton North High School in 1989. In 1994 he graduated from Hellenic College and in 1997 he graduated from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology - both institutions in Brookline, MA.
In 1997 he obtained the position of Youth Director at the SS. Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Glenview, IL. In 1999, he become the Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago.
On November 25, 2000 Fr. Andrew married his love and soul-mate, Dimitra Nassis. On May 21, 2001 he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate at the SS. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Palos Hills, IL. In September of 2001, Fr. Andrew began to serve on a part-time basis The Greek Orthodox Church of St. Demetrios in Elmhurst, IL. On June 9, 2002 Fr. Andrew was ordained to the Holy Priesthood at St. Demetrios and has served the parish on a full-time basis ever since.
Fr. Andrew and Presbytera Dimitra, together with their 5 children, reside in Willowbrook, IL. Fr. Andrew is grateful to Almighty God for the opportunity of serving as a priest and ministering to the faithful of St. Demetrios - unworthy though he may be. He realizes that it is only by God's grace, that his ministry can be fulfilled. He was recently appointed by Metropolitan Nathanael to continue the MHDF ministry for 2020, that was previously headed by Fr. Tilemahos Alikakos since its inception in 2016, and commissioned by His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of blessed memory.