Date of Consecration:

January 16, 1972

Name Day:

May 21

BIOGRAPHY:

The Metropolitan of Italy and Exarch of the Southern Europe Gennadios — whose layman name is Tsampìcos Zervòs — was born to Kremastì in the island of Rhodes on July 8, 1937.

He has gotten the main education in the Elementary School of his country. In succession he has frequented the studies in the Ecclesiastical School of Patmos and in the Theological School of Chalki-Costantinople (Istanbul). In 1961 he has graduated in orthodox theology.

On April 16, 1960 he has been ordained deacon and he has chosen the name of Gennadios. On April 28, 1963 he has been consecrate presbyter. The Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Austria and of the Exarchate of Italy of that time, has named him General Vicar on February 12, 1967.

On April 14 of the same year he has gotten the title of Archimandrite of the Ecumenic Throne from the Ecumenic Patriarch Athenagoras.

He has bends his pastoral service from the 1961 to the 1996 in the historic church of the Saints Peter and Paul of the Greek Orthodox Brotherhood of Naples. Here he has visited all the universities of the country for celebrate, preach and consolidate spiritually and morally the orthodox youth.

He has continued his studies in the University of Naples frequenting courses of Sociology and of Psychology.

In succession he has become Doctor in Theology at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy. His degree thesis — "The contribution of the Ecumenical Patriarcate for the Unity of the Christians" — has been publicized. This work is a legitimate scientific reference for each scholar that wants to deepen this theological theme.

On November 26, 1970 he has been elect Bishop of Cratea, with seat in Naples. This is a historic date because it mark the first presence of an orthodox bishop resident on the Italian land. From many centuries it was not possible.

In the along period of his pastoral service in Italy he has distinguished itself in the spiritual and social presence. For this he has had the medal of Commander of the Italian Republic. This appreciation has been given for the first time to an orthodox prelate.

Like representative of the Ecumenical Patriarcate and of the Archdioceses of Austria and of Italy he has participated to many conferences, scientific meetings and officials manifestations.

Like bishop he has taught patristic Theology in the Theological University Institute of "San Nicola di Bari" for ten years.

Like representative of the Ecumenical Patriarcate he has accompanied the sacred relics of the Saint Dimitrios martyr from Italy to Thessaloniki. In that occasion the bishop Gennadios has gotten the Cross of Gold of Saint Dimitrios.

The Commune of Rhodes has given him the Medal of Gold of the city for his notable appointment in the follow the students of Rhodes, of the Dodecaneso and the Greek students of other resident origins in Italy.

Today these students are become scholars and men of science. As they dignify Greece and the other countries that get the them qualified competence.

On August 26, 1996 the bishop Gennadios has been elect Metropolitan Archbishop of Italy. He has taken possession of the Sacred Italian Archdiocese on October 27 of the same year.

After this event the commune of Rhodes have decided to give at the Metropolitan Gennadios his taller honor.

The Metropolitan Gennadios participates to lectures, he writes articles and he speaks Greek, Latin, Italian and Spanish.

Biography from Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Italy