METROPOLITAN NIKITAS OF DARDANELLIA

 

Hierarchical Sees:

Metropolitan of Dardanellia

Metropolitan of Hong Kong

Date of Consecration:

December 14, 1996

Date of Birth:

June 22, 1955

Full Name:

Nikitas Lulias

 

Articles:

A Sermon on Forgiveness

 

BIOGRAPHY:

His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas was consecrated a Hierarch and named Metropolitan of Hong Kong and South East Asia on Saturday, 14 December 1996. This historic event took place in the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George the Great Martyr, Phanar, Istanbul. He was enthroned as the first Metropolitan of Hong Kong and South East Asia (the Exarchates of China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore) on Sunday, 12 January1997 at the Cathedral of Saint Luke the Evangelist in Hong Kong.

Metropolitan Nikitas, son of Constantine and Kalliope Lulias, was born on June 22, 1955 in Tampa, Florida where he was raised with his brother John. A member of Savant, the University of Florida Honor Society, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) degree from the University in 1976. He was listed in the Who’s Who of American Colleges and Universities in 1975 and 1979. His Eminence attended the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and received his Master of Divinity, with Honors, in 1980.

He was a Rotary International Graduate Scholar from 1980-1981 and A Graduate Scholar, Ministry of the Exterior, Greece, from 1981-1982. He pursued his graduate studies at the University of Thessaloniki, Greece until November 1982. He further studied the Russian language at the St. Petersburg Theological Seminary, St. Petersburg, Russia from late 1992 to mid 1993.

His Eminence Nikitas’ first assignment upon ordination was Associate Pastor at Sts. Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Merriville, Indiana. He remained at the cathedral until 1987 at which time he became the chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Chicago, Illinois.

During his tenure as Chancellor from 1987 to 1995, he was involved in numerous educational, community service, and interfaith activities including:

  • Lecturer in Orthodox Christianity
  • Theology at Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois (1988 to 1991)
  • Member, Board of Directors, the Hellenic Foundation (1989-present)
  • Member, Board of Directors, the Hellenic Museum (1991-1992)
  • Teen Living Program Volunteer (1990-1992) and Volunteer of the Year, Teen Living Program (1992)
  • Member, Executive Committee, National Workshop-Relations Between Christians and Jews (1991)
  • Member, Steering Committee, 32nd Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress

In 1994 he was appointed Director of Development for the International Orthodox Christian Charities and on July 1, 1995 he became Pastor of the St. Demetrios Orthodox Church of Chicago.

Fluent in English, Greek and Russian, he has a working knowledge of Latin, Church Slavonic and Spanish.

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