Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago



The Metropolis of Chicago is a metropolis of the Greek Orthodox Church, part of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, in the North-Central Midwest, United States, with its see city of Chicago. The mother church of the Metropolis is Annunciation Cathedral in Chicago.

On February 7, 2018, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople unanimously elected Nathanael Symeonides as the metropolitan of Chicago, succeeding Metropolitan Iakovos. He was ordained a bishop on March 17, 2018, in the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New York City, and enthroned on March 24, 2018 in the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Chicago).

The Metropolis of Chicago consists of thirty-four parishes in Illinois, with another twenty-four parishes in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, northern Indiana, and eastern and central Missouri. The general offices of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago are located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

History
The Metropolis of Chicago itself traces its explicit roots to 1923, when Rev. Philaret Ioannides became the city’s first Greek Orthodox bishop. Nearly twenty years later, Chicago became the "2nd Diocesan District" of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North & South America. That district would continue to coordinate the ecclesial growth of this major immigrant, industrial, and rail center on the southwestern shores of Lake Michigan.

A number of distinguished bishops served the diocesan community, including Meletios, Ezekiel and the late Timotheos of Rodostolon. Each brought unique talents to Chicago's Greek Orthodox and larger communities. This episcopal ministry excelled with the singular dedication of Chicago's Metropolitan Iakovos, who ministered for thirty eight years. A studied and accomplished liturgist, Athens-born Metropolitan Iakovos made a profound imprint upon the character of the Midwest’s Greek Orthodox communities.

On March 17, 2018, a new chapter in the life and history of the Metropolis of Chicago was inaugurated with the ordination of its next archbishop, Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago, at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. A dedicated and energetic servant of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the faithful of the Metropolis are poised to enter into a new period of growth under the guidance of her new metropolitan.

The majority of metropolis parishes are concentrated in the Chicago metropolitan area, where immigrants arrived as early as the 19th century. Hence, the older parishes are to be found primarily in the older Midwestern industrialized cities, while newer congregations have followed demographic patterns, locating in suburban and even rural/missionary contexts. Within recent decades, Metropolis churches have been built integrating traditional Byzantine forms; earlier structures, in contrast, often were acquired from other faith groups.

Illinois

 * Aurora :St. Athanasios Church
 * Champaign :Three Hierarchs Church
 * Chicago
 * Annunciation Cathedral
 * Assumption Church
 * Holy Trinity Church
 * St. Andrew Church
 * St. Basil Church
 * St. Demetrios Church
 * St. George Church
 * St. Nicholas Albanian Church


 * DeKalb :St. George Church
 * Decatur :Annunciation Church
 * Des Plaines :St. John the Baptist Church
 * East Moline :Assumption Church
 * Elgin :St. Sophia Church
 * Elmhurst :St. Demetrios Church
 * Glenview :Ss. Peter & Paul Church
 * Hegewisch :Assumption Church
 * Homer Glen :Assumption Church
 * Joliet :All Saints Church
 * Justice :Holy Cross Church
 * Kankakee :Annunciation Church
 * Libertyville :St. Demetrios Church
 * Lincolnshire :Ascension of Our Lord Church
 * Niles :Holy Taxiarchai-St. Haralambos
 * Oak Lawn :St. Nicholas Church
 * Palatine :St. Nectarios Church
 * Palos Heights :St. Spyridon Church
 * Palos Hills :Ss. Constantine & Helen Church
 * Peoria :All Saints Church
 * Rock Island :St. George Church
 * Rockford :Ss. Constantine & Helen Church
 * Springfield :St. Anthony Church
 * Swansea :Ss. Constantine & Helen Church
 * Westchester :Holy Apostles Church

Indiana

 * Hammond : St. Demetrios Church
 * Merrillville :Ss. Constantine & Helen Church
 * Schereville :St. George Church
 * South Bend :St. Andrew Church
 * Valparaiso :St. Iakovos Church

Iowa

 * Cedar Rapids :St. John the Baptist Church
 * Des Moines :St. George Church
 * Dubuque :St. Elias the Prophet Church
 * Mason City :Holy Transfiguration Church
 * Sioux City :Holy Trinity Church
 * Waterloo :St. Demetrios Church

Minnesota

 * Duluth :Twelve Holy Apostles Church
 * Minneapolis :St. Mary Church
 * Rochester :Holy Anargyroi Church
 * St. Paul :St. George Church

Missouri

 * Columbia :St. Luke the Evangelist Church
 * St. Louis :St. Nicholas Church
 * Town and Country :Assumption Church

Wisconsin

 * Appleton :St. Nicholas Church
 * Fond du Lac :Holy Trinity Church
 * Madison :Assumption Church
 * Milwaukee :Annunciation Church
 * Racine :Dormition of the Theotokos Church
 * Sheboygan :St. Spyridon Church
 * Wauwatosa :Ss. Constantine & Helen Church

Monasteries

 * Illinois :Holy Transfiguration
 * Wisconsin :St. John Chrysostomos