Phanar: Protosyncellus of the Holy Metropolis of Switzerland was elected Bishop of Tyana
On Sunday, 1 June 2025, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate proceeded to the election, unanimously, of the Protosyncellus of the Holy Metropolis of Switzerland, Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Phanourios Tholiotis, Auxiliary Bishop under the title of the once illustrious Diocese of Tyana.
The following is the announcement regarding the work of the Holy and Sacred Synod:
Under the presidency of His All-Holiness, the Holy and Sacred Synod convened in its regular session on Sunday, 1 June 2025, following the conclusion of the Patriarchal and Synodal Divine Liturgy celebrated in the Most Venerable Patriarchal Church of Saint George, on the occasion of the commemoration of the 318 God-bearing Fathers who constituted the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. The 1700th anniversary of the convening of this Council was honoured yesterday by the issuance of a related Patriarchal and Synodal Encyclical letter, which was read after the Holy Gospel.
During this session, at the proposal of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and following the related request of His Eminence Metropolitan Maximos of Switzerland, and after canonical voting by the Holy and Sacred Synod in the Most Venerable Patriarchal Church, the Very Reverend Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne Phanourios Tholiotis, Protosyncellus of the Holy Metropolis of Switzerland, was unanimously elected Assistant Bishop to His Eminence, under the title of the once illustrious Diocese of Tyana. By synodal decision, the bishop-elect, who henceforth will also bear the title of Protosyncellus of the Holy Metropolis of Switzerland, will be installed—following his episcopal ordination—at the parish facilities in Zurich, in order to serve as Hierarchical Proistamenos of the local Holy Church of Saint Dimitrios the Myrrh-streamer and its parish, as well as President of the Administrative Council of the parish ecclesiastical foundation.
At the same time, a series of items listed on the agenda were reviewed, upon which the appropriate decisions were taken. The work of the Holy and Sacred Synod will continue today, Monday, 2 June 2025.
