Met. Nicholas to temporarily head Chicago Metropolis

(Toledo Blade) - Metropolitan Nicholas, who heads the Metropolis of Detroit within the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, has been named interim successor to the Metropolitan of Chicago, who died on Friday following a short illness.

The Metropolis of Detroit covers Toledo, including Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Metropolitan Nicholas will take on more responsibilities in Chicago until a successor for that metropolis is elected, according to a statement from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

A metropolis is comparable to a Roman Catholic or Anglican diocese.

Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago was 89 and had served the Greek Orthodox Church in America for nearly 50 years, according to the archdiocese.

“With the falling asleep in the Lord of the late Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, the Church in America has lost a prominent Hierarch, known for his great and long service to the people of God,” Archbishop Demetrios of America said in a statement.

The Metropolis of Chicago covers nearly 60 parishes in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, and Missouri. It also covers two monastic communities.

Metropolitan Nicholas, originally of New York, was ordained to the priesthood in 1991, according to the Metropolis of Detroit. He was consecrated as a bishop in 1999 and elevated to metropolitan three years later, in line with with the elevation of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Detroit to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit in 2002.

The Metropolis of Detroit encompasses about 50 parishes in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and New York. Holy Trinity is its only parish in the greater Toledo area.

Metropolitan Nicholas has visited and celebrated Masses at Holy Trinity in the past. The Rev. Larry Legakis, pastor of the local cathedral, was traveling in Greece and could not be reached for comment Monday.