To the Clergy, Monastics, Parish Council Members, and Lay Leaders of the Holy Metropolis of Chicago, grace, peace, and joy in our Lord Jesus Christ!
As we venture into Holy and Great Lent, I wish to express my deep appreciation for your unwavering commitment to the mission of our Church and the spiritual well-being of our faithful. Together, we strive to manifest a Christ-centered ministry, ensuring the Gospel resonates in every part of our Metropolis. In this regard, I wish to highlight the foundational role of our regional vicars.
Over the past three years, our regional vicars have emerged as pivotal figures within our Metropolis. These devoted presbyters, acting on my behalf in both administrative and pastoral matters, have tirelessly fostered the well-being of our clergy and parishes. Their contributions have helped parish communities to flourish, facilitating collaboration, resolving conflicts, and maintaining the Church’s work in unity and peace.
The vicars are integral in the life of the Church, ensuring its vitality and coherence. Far from being an optional administrative layer, the vicars provide essential support in our collective labor in the Lord’s vineyard. To ignore their guidance is akin to sidestepping the Metropolitan, thereby compromising the unity to which Christ calls us.
Each vicar bears significant responsibilities crucial to the spiritual and organizational health of our clergy and parishes. Their role involves advancing the vision of the Metropolitan, organizing regular meetings with clergy and parish leaders, ensuring adherence to Metropolis protocols and directives, nurturing clergy wellness, and mediating disputes. They fulfill these duties under the Vicar General’s supervision and guidance. For your reference, our current vicariate system of our Metropolis is as follows:
Vicar General: Very Reverend Archimandrite Dionysios Anagnostopoulos
Coordinates the work of the vicars and oversees monastic communities.
Vicar for the City of Chicago: Fr. Chrysanthos Kerkeres
Annunciation Cathedral, Assumption, Holy Trinity (Schiller Park), St. Andrew, St. Basil, St. Demetrios, St. George
Vicar for Western Chicago Suburbs: Fr. Panagiotis Boznos
Holy Apostles (Westchester), St. Athanasios (Aurora), Sts. Constantine & Helen (Rockford), St. Demetrios (Elmhurst), St. George (Dekalb), St. Sophia (Elgin)
Vicar for Northern Chicago Suburbs: Fr. Tilemahos Alikakos
Ascension (Lincolnshire), St. Demetrios (Libertyville), St. Haralambos (Niles), St. John the Baptist (Des Plaines), St. Nectarios (Palatine), Ss. Peter and Paul (Glenview).
Vicar for Southern Chicago Suburbs: Fr. Chris Avramopoulos
All Saints (Joliet), Annunciation (Kankakee), Assumption (Homer Glen), Holy Cross (Justice), Ss. Constantine and Helen (Palos Hills), St. Nicholas (Oak Lawn), St. Spyridon (Palos Heights)
Vicar for Indiana Region: Fr. Demetrios Kounavis
Assumption (Hegewisch, IL), St. Andrew (South Bend), Ss. Constantine & Helen (Merrillville), St. Demetrios (Hammond), St. George (Schererville), St. Iakovos (Valparaiso)
Vicar for Iowa Region: Fr. Basil Hickman
Assumption (East Moline, IL), Holy Transfiguration (Mason City), Holy Trinity (Sioux City), St. Demetrios (Waterloo), Saint Elias the Prophet (Dubuque), St. George (Des Moines), St. George (Rock Island, IL), St. John the Baptist (Cedar Rapids).
Vicar for Minnesota Region: Fr. Timothy Sas
Holy Anargyroi (Rochester), St. George (Saint Paul), St. Mary/Dormition (Minneapolis), Twelve Holy Apostles (Duluth)
Vicar for Missouri Region: Fr. Douglas Papulis
All Saints (Peoria, IL), Annunciation (Decatur, IL), Assumption (Town and Country), St. Anthony (Springfield, IL), Ss. Constantine & Helen (Swansea, IL), St. Luke (Columbia), St. Nicholas (St. Louis), Three Hierarchs (Champaign, IL)
Vicar for Wisconsin Region: Fr. Ciprian Sas
Annunciation (Milwaukee), Assumption (Madison), Holy Trinity (Fond du Lac), Kimissis of the Theotokos (Racine), Ss. Constantine & Helen (Wauwatosa), St. Spyridon (Sheboygan)
Additionally, we have two vicars dedicated to special clergy ministries:
Vicar for Clergy Care: Fr. Rick Andrews
Vicar for Retired Clergy: Fr. John Sardis
Through the diligent efforts of our vicars, we cultivate a spirit of mutual support, accountability, and growth within our parishes. They serve as the primary connectors between the Metropolis and her clergy and parish leaders, ensuring that resources are effectively shared, challenges are successfully addressed, and directives from the Metropolis are thoroughly implemented.
As we advance our life in Christ, I encourage each of you to strengthen your collaboration with your respective vicar. Their success relies on your prayers, cooperation, and openness to their ministry. Embrace their work as a divine gift and as an opportunity to deepen our unity in Christ. May our Lord abundantly bless each of you as you continue to serve Him.
With paternal love and prayers,
+NATHANAEL
Metropolitan of Chicago
