Iakovos Garmatis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Iakovos |
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| Diocese | Chicago |
| Reign ended | June 2, 2017 |
| Predecessor | Timotheos |
| Successor | Nathaniel |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | December 25, 1969 |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Michael Garmatis |
| Born | April 4, 1928 Athens, Greece |
| Died | June 2, 2017 (aged 89) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Denomination | Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Profession | Theologian |
Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago (born Michael Garmatis) was an important leader in the Eastern Orthodox Church. He was born on April 4, 1928, in Athens, Greece. He served as the Metropolitan of Chicago, a senior bishop, for the Greek Orthodox Church until he passed away on June 2, 2017.
About Iakovos
Michael Garmatis started his higher education in Athens, Greece. Later, he continued his studies and church service in the Boston area in the United States. In February 1968, he was chosen to be a special assistant, called an Archdiocesan Vicar, for the Diocese of Detroit. A year later, on Christmas Day in 1969, he became a bishop. He was named the Bishop of Apameia and was assigned to lead the Detroit district.
In 1971, Bishop Iakovos took on another big role. He became the President of Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. These are very important schools for training future church leaders. He kept his role overseeing the Detroit Diocese at the same time. For five years, while he was president of these schools, he also served as the Bishop for the New England area.
In 1969, church leaders from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople chose him to be a bishop in the Greek Orthodox Church. On May 1, 1979, he officially began his role as the Bishop of Chicago at the Annunciation Cathedral. In November 1997, he was chosen to be the Metropolitan of Chicago. This meant he was the main leader, or proedros, for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago.
His Work in Chicago
The Diocese of Chicago is like a church district. It includes 34 churches in Illinois. It also has 24 more churches in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, northern Indiana, and eastern Missouri. The main offices for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago are located in Chicago, Illinois.
Under Metropolitan Iakovos's leadership, the church worked hard to help people. They especially focused on assisting those who were homeless or in need. This was done through the Diocesan Philanthropy Committee. He also started new programs for young people. He created groups to talk and work with other faith communities.
Metropolitan Iakovos also began several other important programs. These included the Bishop Iakovos Scholarship Assistance Program, which helped students. He also started the Bishop's Task Force on AIDS. For fun and community building, he created the Diocese Junior Olympics and the Diocese Dance Festival. He also supported many programs for religious education and learning about Greek culture.
Later Life
Metropolitan Iakovos passed away on June 2, 2017. He was 89 years old. He died at the Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago after having surgery.
