JOHNSTOWN, PA – (acrod.org) The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople on Thursday, August 30, 2012, elected unanimously the Very Reverend Archimandrite Grigorios Tatsis to be the Diocesan Bishop of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA with the title of Bishop of Nyssa. His name was submitted to the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate by His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of America, Locum Tenens of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA, following the submission of his candidacy by the diocesan priests at a Special Assembly convened on July 14, 2012 at Christ the Saviour Cathedral. The newly elected bishop will travel to Constantinople for the official ceremonies of announcement and acceptance, known as Mikro and Mega Minima, which will take place at the Ecumenical Patriarchate. His ordination to the episcopacy and enthronement as Diocesan Bishop will take place later, on a date to be determined, at the Carpatho-Russian Cathedral in Johnstown, PA.
His Grace, Bishop-elect Grigorios (Gregory) was born in Charlotte, NC on Dec 7, 1958, with the baptismal name of George, the first of two children of Peter and Antonia Tatsis. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earning a BA degree in Biology (1981) and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte earning a MS degree in Biology (1989). Working for more than 20 years in the field of Cardiovascular Research at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, he authored/co-authored over one hundred articles, abstracts, and book chapters.
A true son of the Church, from his early youth Bishop-elect Grigorios served in his home parish of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Charlotte, NC in various capacities including altar server, Sunday School teacher for 13 years and in several leadership positions including Parish Council President. He was also a founding member of St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte, NC where he served on the Parish Organizing Committee, as Sunday School teacher for four years, as a member of the choir and as its first parish council president.
After taking part in a mission trip to Alaska sponsored by the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, Bishop-elect Grigorios felt the calling to pursue his life-long dream of studying for the Holy Priesthood. Leaving his secular job in early 2003, he entered Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA in the Fall of 2003 and graduated in May of 2006 with the Masters of Divinity degree.
Bishop-elect Grigorios was ordained a Deacon at St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte, NC on November 4, 2006 by His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta. He was tonsured a Monk at Agia Lavra Monastery in Kalavryta, Greece on January 17, 2007, receiving the name Grigorios with St. Gregory Palamas as his Patron Saint. He was ordained a priest at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Atlanta, GA on January 28, 2007 also by His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta and was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite on the same day. On February 1, 2007, he was appointed as the Ierokyrix (Traveling Preacher) of the Metropolis of Atlanta. On September 14, 2007, he received the offikion (rank) of Confessor at the Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Chapel in Atlanta, GA.
Serving in his role as Itinerant Preacher and Confessor, Bishop-elect Grigorios has travelled extensively throughout the Metropolis of Atlanta, where he has led parish retreats, heard confessions and provided spiritual direction to countless numbers of clergy and faithful. Recognizing his affinity for youth ministry and his administrative skills, he was given the responsibility of overseeing all youth programs in the Metropolis of Atlanta.
Bishop-elect Grigorios also served as the Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Raleigh, NC from December 20, 2010 until May 31, 2011. Since October of 2011, he has served as Dean of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in New Orleans, LA, and as Vicar of the Western Conference of the Metropolis of Atlanta.