The Enthronement of Metropolitan Sevastianos of Atlanta
January 25th & 26th, 2025
Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation
If you have placed your name and those of your guests on our Waitlist for tickets for the Enthronement Luncheon on Saturday the January 25th, please be aware our Committee is actively reviewing those names for the potential of offering seats for the event. You should hear by email or phone within the next 24-48 hours from the Committee to 1) confirm your continued interest, and 2) if you will have seats available for you. Thank you for your patience and interest.
Seating has reached full capacity for Enthronement Luncheon (1/25)
Overflow seating with refreshments and a livestream of the Luncheon will be available for no charge.
Schedule of Events
-
The Enthronement
January 25, 2025 - 10:00am
The Enthronement service, hosted at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation and followed by a paid luncheon.
Seating has reached full capacity for the luncheon, but donation and sponsorship opportunities are still available by clicking HERE
-
Orthros and Divine Liturgy
January 26, 2025 - 8:00am
Orthros followed by the Divine Liturgy, hosted at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation and followed by a reception.
Free tickets required for reception, reserve online
About the Metropolitan
His Eminence Metropolitan Sevastianos of Atlanta
in Ano-Zodia, Cyprus. He is the oldest of three children of Panayiota and Frixos Skordallos.
He received his primary education in his village and then attended the Economic High School, Morphou, Cyprus where he graduated in 1973. and the Theological School of the University of Athens, Greece (1978). He received a scholarship (1979) through the World Council of Churches to study in the United States at Columbia Theological Seminary and Emory University in Decatur, Georgia where he received a Th.M. in Pastoral Psychology (1982). He has worked and received advanced certification in Clinical Pastoral Education at Caraway Methodist Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama (1980-1982), and furthered his studies in Pastoral Psychology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee as well as at Middle Tennessee State University (1982-1984).
Metropolitan Sevastianos was ordained as a Deacon on January 17, 1974, by the late Metropolitan of Morphou Chrysanthos. As a Deacon he served the late Metropolitan Chyrsanthos of Morphou (1974), St. George Church, in Acadimia Platonos, in Athens (1975), and St. Nicholas Church in Kato Patisia, Athens (1976-78).
He was ordained as a Priest on March 4, 1979, in England by the then Bishop of Tropaiou and later Archbishop of Tyateira Gregorios. As a priest he served in Nottingham, England (1979), Holy Trinity-Holy Cross in Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. (1980-82), Sts. Constantine and Helen – Holy Cross, Huntsville, Alabama (1982-84, 1988-93), the Cathedral of Panayia Catholike, Limassol, Cyprus (1984-88), Holy Transfiguration, Marietta, Georgia (1993-2004), where he was able to build their first church edifice, educational build, and amphitheater. He continued his service at St. Nicholas Cathedral, Tarpon Springs, Florida (2004-06), where he was honored to receive His All-Holness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who lead the Centennial Celebration of St. Nicholas Cathedral as well as the Great Blessing of the Waters during Theophany and the retrieving of the cross by the youth which was attended by over 60,000 faithful and visitors.
He received the offikion of Archimandrite by the late Archbishop of Thyateira Athenagoras. He was appointed Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America on June 1, 2006 through 2018.
On December 2, 2011, he was elected by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as an Auxiliary Bishop under the title of the once-glorious Diocese of Zela, serving under then-Archbishop of America Demetrios.
In 2012, he was appointed Spiritual Advisor to the National Philoptochos Society of America.
Metropolitan Sevastianos was actively involved in the administration of the Church, and in particular on the Metropolis of Atlanta Council and the Archdiocesan Council, specifically in the Administration Committee of the Archdiocesan Council where he assisted in developing resources for the training of Parish Councils, and in the Legal Committee of the Archdiocese. He has served as President of the Clergy Syndesmos of the Metropolis of Atlanta for several years and was a member of the Archdiocesan Presbyters Council where he served as Vice-President.
In early December 2018, His Eminence returned to the Metropolis of Atlanta to assist His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios in ministering and serving the faithful within the Metropolis of Atlanta.
On December 2, 2024, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America recommended to the Eparchial Synod that His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zela succeed His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios as the new Metropolitan of Atlanta. On the same day the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate unanimous elected His Grace Bishop Sevastianos of Zela as the new Metropolitan of the Holy Metropolis of Atlanta.
His Eminence Metropolitan Sevastianos was Enthroned as Metropolitan of Atlanta on January 25, 2025, at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation in Atlanta, Georgia.
WAS BORN
EDUCATION
ORDINATIONS & SERVICE
ADMINISTRATION
METROPOLIS OF ATLANTA
The Enthronement
The Enthronement of His Eminence Metropolitan Sevastianos will take place on Saturday, January, 25, 2025, at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Atlanta at 10:00am during a formal church ceremony according to the ancient rites of the Orthodox Church.
The structure of the Enthronement Service has developed through the centuries. However, its theology is firmly grounded on the letters of Saint Ignatius of Antioch (104 A.D), according to whom “the bishop represents the image of God” and “wherever the bishop is surrounded by the people of God, there the entire church is present and united.”
The service opens with a solemn procession and the entrance of the elected Metropolitan, who is escorted by senior bishops to the throne where they exclaim, “Axios! He is Worthy!” This exclamation will be repeated several times throughout the service by the entire congregation, comprising clergy and laity.
The Enthronement Service includes special hymns and prayers to the Holy Spirit, as well as a brief chant of Doxology. During the service, the Metropolitan will offer his blessing, while the choir and congregation will respond by chanting the Metropolitan’s official hymn of acclamation for the first time in the Cathedral. One of the central elements of the service is the passing of the Pastoral Staff – symbolizing the transition of spiritual authority and pastoral care – to Metropolitan Sevastianos of Atlanta.