This Sunday, we will be blessed to have His Excellency Metropolitan Gregory celebrate the Divine Liturgy with us. He will also serve Orthros on Sunday and the Paraklesis Service on Friday evening. Below is a biographical sketch of this beloved bishop.
Metropolitan Gregory was born in Charlotte, NC on Dec 7, 1958, with the baptismal name of George, the first of two children of Peter and Antonia Tatsis. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earning a BA degree in Biology (1981) and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte earning a MS degree in Biology (1989). Working for more than 20 years in the field of Cardiovascular Research at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, he authored/co-authored over one hundred articles, abstracts, and book chapters.
After taking part in a mission trip to Alaska sponsored by the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, Metropoitan Gregory felt the calling to pursue his life-long dream of studying for the Holy Priesthood. Leaving his secular job in early 2003, he entered Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookine, MA in the Fall of 2003 and graduated in May of 2006 with the Masters of Divinity degree.
Metropolitan Gregory was ordained a Deacon at St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte, NC on November 4, 2006 by His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta. He was tonsured a Monk at Agia Lavra Monastery in Kalavryta, Greece on January 17, 2007, receiving the name Grigorios with St. Gregory Palamas as his Patron Saint. He was ordained a priest at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Atlanta, GA on January 28, 2007 also by His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta and was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite on the same day. On February 1, 2007, he was appointed as the Ierokyrix (Itinerant Preacher) of the Metropolis of Atlanta. On September 14, 2007, he received the offikion (rank) of Confessor at the Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Chapel in Atlanta, GA.
Serving in his role as Itinerant Preacher and Confessor, Metropolitan Gregory travelled extensively throughout the Metropolis of Atlanta, where he has led parish retreats, heard confessions and provided spiritual direction to countless numbers of clergy and faithful. Recognizing his affinity for youth ministry and his administrative skills, he was given the responsibility of overseeing all youth programs in the Metropolis of Atlanta.
Metropolitan Gregory also served as the Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Raleigh, NC from December 20, 2010 until May 31, 2011. From October 1, 2011 - September 30, 2012 he served as Dean of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in New Orleans, LA, and as Vicar of the Western Conference of the Metropolis of Atlanta.
On Saturday July 14, 2012 at a Special Assembly of Diocesan Priests, Metropolitan Gregory was nominated as successor to His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas of Amissos. On August 30, 2012, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, canonically elected Bishop Gregory as Titular Bishop of Nyssa and ruling Diocesan Hierarch of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A. After travelling to Constantinople and officially accepting the call of the Church to serve as Bishop during the Mega Minas service, he was consecrated as Bishop at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Johnstown, PA on Tuesday, November 27, 2012. His consecrating Bishops in addition to His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of America, included His Eminence, Metropolitan Alexios of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta, His Eminence, Metropolitan Savas of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh and His Eminence, Metropolitan Antony and His Grace, Bishop Daniel of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A.
In July of 2013, in recognition of Metropolitan Gregory's experience in youth and young adult ministries, he was appointed by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA as Episcopal Liason to the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) Pan-Orthodox College Ministry. In 2016 he was elected Secretary of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA.