Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis)

Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) (1969-____)

Early life of Evangelos Koufallakis

In 1969, Evangelos Ioannou Koufalakis was born on the Island of Rodes, Greece (not far from Turkey, and one of the Dodecanese Islands), to Ioannis and Stergia Koufallakis. He was the second of their 4 children.

Evangelos Ioannou and his siblings were baptised into the Orthodox Christian Church in their home village, and they were raised in the bosom of the Greek Orthodox Church in Rhodes (a part of the Patriarchate of Constantinople).

He completed his primary and secondary education near his home.

Higher education

In 1990, Evangelos was accepted into the Ecclesiastical School of Patmos where he studied Orthodox Byzantine Music, and Hymnology.

Patmadia School of Patmos

This school is near the Cave of the Apocalypse, and the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian.

Entrance to the Cave of the Apocalypse

Monastery of Saint John the Theologian

Monastic tonsure

In 1993, in the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, Evangelos Koufallakis was tonsured to be a monk, and he was given the name Apostolos.

Diaconal ordination

On 20 June, 1993, the Monk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis) of Rhodes.

Diaconal service

Hierodeacon Apostolos (Koufallakis) was assigned to serve as deacon to the Metropolitan of Rhodes, Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis). He served in the capacity for 2 years.

Further education

In 1995, Hierodeacon Apostolos was accepted into the University of Thessaloniki in northern Greece.

Presbyteral ordination

On 28 July, 1996, Hierodeacon Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis)] of Rhodes.

Pastoral service

At first, the Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) continued his studies, and he served under obedience to the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, Metropolitan Panteleimon II (Chrysofakis).

In 2000, the Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) graduated from the University of Thessaloniki with the Master of Divinity Degree.

Move to USA, 2001 ; further education

In 2001, with the permission and blessing of his spiritual father, Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) travelled to the United States of America for further theological studies.

He was accepted into the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America by by Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis) Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis), who blessed his continuing study, while he served simultaneously in communities of the Holy Metropolis of Boston. In 2002, Hieromonk Apostolos was accepted into Boston University at Boston, Massachusets.

In 2004, Hieromonk Apostolos received the Master of Sacred Theology Degree from the School of Theology of Boston University.

Boston University

Continuing pastoral service

From 2004 to 2008, the Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was assigned by Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis) to serve as Priest-in-Charge of the Cathedral of Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine in the historic Community of the Astoria, New York. He served there with dedication, and he carried out a rich spiritual ministry.

Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine Cathedral

On 20 March, 2008, Hieromonk Apostolos received the Citation of Honour for his “profound devotion to the Greek Orthodox Church and to the Greek American Community”, during the Greek Independence Day celebrations.

In March, 2009, the Hieromonk Apostolos was assigned to serve as director of the Archdiocesan Hellenic Cultural Centre of the Archdiocese of America in Astoria, New York.

Hellenic Cultural Centre, Astoria

In November, 2011, Hieromonk Apostolos was transferred to serve as the Chancellor (Protosyngellos) of the Metropolis of San Francisco under the omophor of Metropolitan Gerasimos (Michaleas).

Episcopal ordination

In 2014, Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was nominated to become a bishop.

On 28 November, 2014, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate unanimously elected him to become Bishop of Medeia, as Vicar-Bishop (Auxiliary Bishop) to the then Archbishop of America, Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis).

Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite.

On 20 December, 2014, Archimandrite Apostolos (Koufallakis) made his Confession of Faith before the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople at the Phanar, Constantinople (Istanbul).

On 20 December, 2014, Archimandrite Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate by members of the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople, including Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis).

Episcopal service

In accordance with the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople, as Vicar-Bishop, Bishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was given the title Bishop of Medeia.

In 2018, Bishop Apostolos was assigned to serve as Chief Secretary of the Eparchial Synod of the Holy Archdiocese of America.

In 2019, Bishop Apostolos was given the responsibility of planning for the service for the enthronement of Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambrianidis) of New York and the United States of America. The enthronement took place on 22 June, 2019.

In 2019, Bishop Apostolos was assigned to serve as Spiritual Advisor of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society of America.

On 3 February, 2021, Bishop Apostolos was assigned by Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambrianadis) of America to serve as Patriarchal Commissioner of the then-vacant Holy Metropolis of New Jersey, including the responsibility for its liturgical and pastoral needs. This assignment came after the dethronement (8 October, 2020) of its previous bishop, Metropolitan Evangelos (Kourounis). He received this responsibility in the context of many controversies which he inherited.

On 6 December, 2022, Bishop Apostolos celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the recently-reconstructed Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Manhattan, New York City, since its destruction on 11 November, 2001.

Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Manhattan

Metropolitan of New Jersey

On 24 July, 2023, following the favourable recommendation of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis), Bishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was elected by the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople to become Metropolitan of the newly-restored Metropolis of New Jersey. He was elevated to the dignity of metropolitan.

On 16 September, 2023, Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) was enthroned in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Theologian, Tenafly, New Jersey, as metropolitan the Metropolis of New Jersey. The enthronement was led by Metropolitan Kyrillos (Kogerakis) of Rhodes, Representative of Patriarch Bartholomew, and Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis) of America, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Saint John the Theologian Metropolitan Cathedral, Tenafly, New Jersey

Following the Rite of Enthronement, a celebratory Gala Banquet was held at The Venetian, which included greetings from The Honourable Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey ; His Excellency Evangelos Savva, Ambassador of Cyprus to the United States ; and The Honourable Konstantinos Konstantinou, Consul General of Greece in New York, among many other notable leaders of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey.

Later in September, 2023, Metropolitan Apostolos was assigned to serve for one year as a member of the Eparchial Synod of the Holy Archdiocese of America.

On 9 April, 2024, Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) presided over the first Clergy-Laity Conference of the Metropolis of New Jersey since his enthronement. Present also was Archbishop Elpidephoros (Lambrianidis), head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the new Chancellor of the Metropolis of New Jersey, Archimandrite Nektarios (Cottras).

On 13 January, 2025, there was a large celebration in honour of the 10th anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Metropolitan Apostolos. The event took place at the The Venetian Catering Hall in Garfield, New Jersey.

Archbishop of Toronto and Canada

On Wednesday, 22 July, 2026, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, under the presidency of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, elected Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) of New Jersey to become the next Archbishop of Canada, following the retirement of the previous incumbent, Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas) earlier in the month.

Soon after the elections, on 28 July, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos sent a letter of greeting to the clergy and parishioners of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Canada. In this letter, he informed the Faithful that the enthronement had been scheduled for 19 September, 2026, at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

On 10 September, 2026, a grand banquet of farewell was served for Archbishop Apostolos in the Metropolis of New Jersey, at "The Venetian" in Garfield, New Jersey, USA. The event was hosted and led by Archbishop Elpidephoros (Lambriniadis) of New York and America.

On Thursday, 17 September, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos arrived in Toronto, Ontario, in advance of the enthronement on Saturday. He was escorted to the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Toronto and Canada, where he would also reside. His predecessor, Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas) was present for the welcoming. At first, there was a service of thanksgiving in the Church of Saint John the Theologian.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonas) had assign Archbishop Nikitas (Lioulias) of Thyateira and Great Britain as his Patriarchal Representative at the service of the enthronement. He was accompanied by Archdeacon Dr. Georgios Tsouros and Father Pavlos Lambrou.

Enthronement in Toronto

On Saturday, 19 September, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was formally and officially enthroned as Archbishop of Toronto and Canada by the representative of Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) of Constantinople, Archbishop Nikitas (Lioulias) of Thyateira and Great Britain.

The service of enthronement was attended by hierarchs, and clergy from various Orthodox Churches ; by hierarchs, and representatives of other Christian traditions, as well as senior representatives of ecclesiastical, political, and public life.

Representing Greece were Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports Sofia Zacharaki, and Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou.

Amongst the Canadian politicians attending were former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien ; Ontario Premier Doug Ford ; Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree ; MPs Annie Koutrakis, Effie Triantafilopoulos, and Aris Babikian ; Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, and City Councillor Nick Mantas.

Following the greetings and messages from representatives of political and public life, Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain formally enthroned the new Archbishop of Canada.

Then Archbishop Nikitas read the Message from Patriarch Bartholomew, which highlighted the importance of Archbishop Apostolos’ new service in Canada’s contemporary and multicultural society.

After this, in his inaugural address, Archbishop Apostolos acknowledged the work of his predecessor, the former Archbishop Sotirios of Canada. He drew attention to his many years of service in the development of the Church in Canada, particularly in education, youth ministry, and clergy formation.

The new Archbishop pledged to respect and continue the work entrusted to him. He said, “I am not inheriting a small ark. I am inheriting a significant ecclesiastical work”.

Archbishop Apostolos also emphasised the importance of spiritual life and monasticism, and he averred that Canada’s monasteries would continue to remain under the canonical and spiritual care of the Archdiocese. In this connection, he pledged to strengthen their presence in Canada, as active centres and examples of prayer, repentance, ascetic life, spiritual renewal, and hospitality, and pledged to strengthen their presence.

The Archbishop addressed the subject of Hellenism in the diaspora, and the Greek language. He stressed that "Romiosyni" is not simply a memory of the past, but rather a living tradition that is passed on and renewed from generation to generation. He described the Greek language as “a living ark of memory, truth, and wisdom”, ... “a bearer of our culture and spiritual heritage”, ... and “a bridge between generations”.

He stressed that the Archdiocese would support teachers, parents, and educational programmes, so that the Greek language, history, and tradition can be passed on to future generations. About them, he stressed that the youth are not simply the future of the Church, but are already an active part of it. He encouraged them to participate in the worship, and in community life of the Church, and not to be afraid to ask questions.

In the English-language section of his address, he stressed that supporting the development of young people is the responsibility of the hierarchy, clergy, parents, educators, and the entire Greek Orthodox community. He also called for stronger Sunday schools, and youth programmes in every parish so that children can come to know and love the Orthodox faith, the Greek language, history, and culture.

He stressed that a person can be at the same time “a good Canadian, a conscious Greek and, above all, a faithful Orthodox Christian.”

He also pledged that the Church would maintain an active presence in Canadian society, with an emphasis on peace, human dignity, the family, and support for those in need.

Archbishop Apostolos was particularly clear about the relationship between the Archdiocese of Canada and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, describing it as a “sacred trust”. “We will honour it, protect it, and serve it,” he said, while expressing his commitment to the Mother Church of Constantinople. Archbishop Apostolos also said that he would defend “with all his strength” the canonical rights and standing of the Archdiocese of Canada.

He stressed that he would serve the Church “with dialogue, prudence, and peace,” but also with the frankness required by episcopal responsibility. “The Archbishop is not the master of the Church,” he said, but “the guardian and servant of the trust” entrusted to him by the Church.

Bishop of Medeia 2014-2023. Preceded by : ____. Succeeded by : ____.

Metropolitan of New Jersey 2023-2026. Preceded by : Metropolitan Evnagelos (Kourounis). Succeeded by : ____.

Archbishop of Toronto and Canada 2026-____. Preceded by : Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas). Succeeded by : ____.