ΙΕΡΑ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΗ

ΑΜΕΡΙΚΗΣ

    The Greek Orthodox Diocese of New Jersey of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and under the spiritual jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople was established in 1977 and was originally housed at the Archdiocese headquarters in New York City.  His Grace, Bishop Silas of Amphipolis was elected as the first Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey and in 1979, he was elevated by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople to Titular Metropolitan of New Jersey. His Excellency, Metropolitan Silas continued his service to the Diocese as its spiritual leader until his retirement in 1996.

In March of 1999, Bishop George of New Jersey was elected the second Bishop of the Diocese.  Bishop George relocated the physical presence of the Diocese to the State of New Jersey in order to establish its territorial integrity. The plans for a new Diocesan Center were underway when the untimely death of Bishop George, of blessed memory, in November 1999, suspended them.

The temporary Diocesan Offices were initially located in an office building in New Providence, NJ and in August of 2003 were subsequently relocated to Kenilworth, New Jersey, where they are located today.  Upon the death of Bishop George, Archbishop Demetrios, as Locum Tenens, administered and oversaw the Diocese and its affairs  until May, 2003, at which time the Very Reverend Archimandrite Evangelos Kourounis was  canonically elected by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, ordained to the Episcopacy and Enthroned as the first Metropolitan and Spiritual Leader of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey.

With the new Charter granted to the Archdiocese by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Diocese of New Jersey was elevated to the status of a Metropolis.  It is comprised of all (56) parishes in the States of New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and the Greater Philadelphia area.

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