Metropolitan Anthony Gergiannakis, spiritual leader of the Greek
Orthodox Diocese in the Western United States since the district’s
creation in 1979, has died following a short illness. He was 69
years old.
Metropolitan Anthony Gergiannakis, spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox Diocese in the Western United States since the district’s creation in 1979, has died following a short illness. He was 69 years old.
A popular figure in the Orthodox community, Anthony oversaw a period of unparalleled renewal in the region, including the founding of more than 20 new parishes and missions, the establishment of three monasteries, and the construction of the St. Nicholas Ranch Greek Orthodox Conference and Retreat Center in the Sierra Nevada Foothills.
Anthony was also was instrumental in developing the annual San Francisco Metropolis Folk Dance Festival into the world’s largest exhibition of Greek dance, costume and music, and also helped to create the Bishop Anthony Student Aid Endowment Fund, a multi-million dollar scholarship account for seminarians.
Diagnosed in November with Burkitt’s lymphoma, a rare form of cancer, Anthony succumbed to the disease on Dec. 25 at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, Calif.. A Trisagion (Prayer) Service was held in his memory on Dec. 28, and the Divine Liturgy and funerary service will take place this morning beginning at 8:30am at the Ascension Cathedral in Oakland, Calif., according to Father Paul Schroeder.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has nearly five million members across the United States.
