Seraphim Roris

His Eminence Seraphim Roris
Metropolitan of Karystos and Skyros
Personal details
Born	Sokrates Roris 1 July 1929 Kosmas, Greece
Alma mater	University of Athens

Seraphim Roris (Greek: Σεραφείμ Ρόρης; born Sokrates Roris, Greek: Σωκράτης Ρόρης, 1 July 1929) is a Greek Orthodox metropolitan and theologian. As of 2024, he is the oldest hierarch of the Church of Greece.

Biography

He was born on July 1, 1929, in the village of Kosmas, Greece, and he was the fifth of seven children of George and Theodora. He received his primary education in his native village and graduated from high school in Leonidio.

In 1950, he entered the [[theological institute of the University of Athens]], which he graduated from in 1955. After graduating from the university, he served as a lieutenant of artillery in various military schools and units, as well as in the Hellenic Army General Staff.

Subsequently, he returned to his homeland and worked as a teacher in schools in the region. After some time, he was appointed a professor of religious studies at the gymnasium of Petra on Lesbos, and then in Kato Kleisoura (Kalavryta). He developed extensive missionary activities, teaching in catechetical schools, organizing evening classes, creating libraries, and providing materials for poor students.

In 1962, he left teaching and was tonsured a monk with the name Seraphim in the Elon Monastery. On August 10, 1962, he was ordained a hierodeacon by Germanos Roubanis, Metropolitan of Mantineia and Kinouria.

On October 14, 1962, in the Cathedral of Saint Basil in Tripoli, he was ordained a hieromonk, and on October 25, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. He served as a priest in the Mantineia and Kinouria Metropolis, taught religion and the New Testament at the Pedagogical Academy, and was a member of the brotherhood of the Nikolsky Varsin Monastery.

In November 1968, the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece elected him for ordination as the Metropolitan of Karystia and Skyros. On November 24, 1968, in the Cathedral of Saint Basil in Tripoli, he was ordained a bishop by Metropolitan Anthony of Xanthi, assisted by Metropolitans Sotirios of Gytheion, Theoklitos of Mantineia, Chrysostomos of Argolis, and Bishop Elias of Peristeri. On December 8, 1968, in the Cathedral of Saint Athanasios in Kymi, the enthronement ceremony took place.

During his pastoral activities, he founded two homes for the elderly in Kymi and Karystos, took care of the improvement of the Transfiguration Monastery in Kymi, the Assumption Monastery in Matsari, the Saint Charalambos Monastery in Lefkes, the Saint John the Baptist Monastery in Karyes, and the Saint Anthony Monastery in Achladeri.

From January 28 to February 7, 2008, he was the locum tenens of the Archdiocesan Throne of Athens.

On March 8, 2017, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and members of the Synod of the Church of Greece awarded Metropolitan Seraphim the Order of the Holy Apostle Paul in honor of the upcoming 50th anniversary of his episcopal consecration.