Seraphim of Athens

His Beatitude Seraphim
Archbishop of Athens
Installed	13 January 1974
Term ended	10 April 1998
Predecessor	Ieronymos I
Successor	Christodoulos
Personal details
Born	Vissarion Tikas (1913-10-26)26 October 1913 Karditsa,Greece
Died	10 April 1998(1998-04-10)(aged 84) Athens,Greece

Seraphim(Greek,Σεραφείμ) bornVissarion Tikas(Greek,Βησσαρίων Τίκας) (26 October 1913 – 10 April 1998) wasArchbishop of Athens and All Greecefrom 1974 to 1998.

Biography

He was born in the village ofArtesiano,nearKarditsainGreece,in 1913. Archbishop Seraphim of Athens enrolled in the Theological School of theUniversity of Athensin 1936 and graduated in 1940. During his second year (1938), he became amonkin thePendeliMonastery.

Seraphim of Athens was ordained adeaconby the then Metropolitan Bishop ofCorinthand byArchbishop Damaskinos of Athens,and served at the Church of the Holy Trinity inNeo Iraklio.

In 1942 he was ordained apriestand anarchimandrite,also by Archbishop Damaskinos and served as parish priest at the Church of St Luke inPatisia.During theAxis occupation of GreeceduringWorld War II,he joined the ranks ofEDESunder generalNapoleon Zervas.

He served as secretary of the Holy Synod of theChurch of Greece,and in 1949, was elected Metropolitan Bishop ofArtaand in 1958 was transferred toIoannina.

Archbishop Seraphim of Athens was elected Archbishop of Athens and All Greece on January 13, 1974, succeeding ArchbishopIeronymos I.

As prelate of theChurch of Greece,he visited the Patriarchates ofConstantinople,Antioch,Moscow,SofiaandBelgrade.

During his 24 years as church leader he swore in sixPresidents of Greeceand numerousPrime Ministers.

He died inAthenson April 10, 1998. The government declared four days of national mourning.