Date of Death:

May 11, 2011

Hierarchical Sees:

Metropolitan of Bryoula (2007-2011)

Metropolitan of Spain and Portugal (2003-2007)

Date of Consecration:

May 4, 2003

Date of Election:

April 12, 2003

Date of Ordination to the Priesthood:

1984

Date of Ordination to the Diaconate:

1984

Date of Birth:

1935

Full Name:

Constantine Perialas

BIOGRAPHY:

New York (April 16, 2003) — The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople unanimously elected on April 12 the Very Reverend Archimandrite Epiphanios Perialas as the first Metropolitan of the newly established Metropolis of Spain and Portugal.

Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, when he was informed of this election offered the following comments: “The election of a fine clergyman of our Holy Archdiocese of America like Archimandrite Epiphanios Perialas in the newly established Metropolis of Spain and Portugal is an event of particular joy and pride in the Lord. We congratulate the Metropolitan-elect who has served with zeal and success in the Church and in the field of education for many years here in America, the place of his birth. Now, God calls him to offer his God-given talents and minister in Europe as Metropolitan of a newly established Metropolis. It is apparent that this new sacred post is not only pastoral but also missionary in character; it is a complex and challenging task. He has our best wishes for the abundant blessings from God for spiritual prosperity which we believe will be, with the grace of God ‘exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think’ (Eph. 3:20).”

The Metropolitan-elect of Spain and Portugal Epiphanios was born in Ithaca, New York, in 1935. He enrolled and graduated from Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline and Syracuse University. He also holds a certificate in Educational Management from the School of Business of Harvard University and has attended Cornell and Fordham Universities.

From 1959 to 1984 he served in various positions as youth director, chanter and choir director in many parishes. From 1984 until his election, he served many parishes as pastor and was for 15 years at St. Catherine’s parish in Ithaca, NY. From 1961 he has worked as a teacher in public education and held academic positions at Syracuse University and Ithaca College having a specialty in speech communication.

At the time of his election to the see of the Metropolis of Spain and Portugal he was serving in the parish of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in St. Clair Shores, Michigan.