Bishop Theodosios (Sideris)

Bishop Theodosios (Sideris) (1903-1978)

Theodosios may be spelt Theodosius.

Vasilios may be spelt Vasilius, Vasile, Vasily, Basil, Basile.

Early life of Vasilios L Sideris

Vasilios L Sideris was born on 20 July, 1903, in Vryoula, Smyrna, in Asia Minor of the then Ottoman Empire.

Higher education

After having completed his primary and secondary education, he attended and graduated from the Rizareios Teachers' College in Athens, Greece.

He then entered the Theological School of the University of Athens from which he received a degree in Orthodox Theology in 1935.

Diaconal ordination, 1926

In 1926, while he was pursuing these studies, Vasilios was ordained to the Holy Diaconate, and he received the name Theodosios at that time.

Diaconal service

As a deacon, he was assigned to the Temple of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary in Piraeus, near Athens. He served there for 7 years.

Presbyteral ordination, 1933

In 1933, Deacon Theodosios Sideris was ordained to the Holy Priesthood.

Pastoral service

After the ordination, Priest Theodosius Sideris served in the Temple of Saint Alexandros of Palaio Faliro, in Athens.

During the years of 1936-1937 he served as a teacher and as the assistant dean at the theological school of Mount Athos.

Transfer to North America, 1937 ; further study

Father Theodosios Sideris was transferred to the Greek Orthodox Diocese of North and South America, primarily for the purpose of further study.

He arrived in the USA on 3 November, 1937, and he was assigned to serve in the Temple of Saints Constantine and Helen in Richmond, Virginia.

Saints Constantine and Helen Temple, Richmond

At the same time, Father Theodosios pursued theological studies at the Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, from which he received Master of Theology degree in 1942.

He continued his studies, and received the Doctor of Theology degree from Union Theological Seminary in 1947.

In 1954, Father Theodosios Sideris was assigned to serve as the priest of the Temple of the Three Hierarchs in Brooklyn, New York.

Then, he was chosen and elected by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople to become a bishop.

Monastic tonsure, 1960

In New York in 1960, Priest Theodosius was tonsured to be a monk, and he was given the name Theodosios.

Episcopal ordination, 1960

On 13 September, 1960, Hieromonk Theodosius (Sideris) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate by Archbishop Iakovos (Coucouzis) at the Holy Greek Orthodox Trinity Cathedral in New York City.

Episcopal service

Bishop Theodosios (Sideris) was given the title Bishop of Ancona. This is a titular see, a former Orthodox diocese in Italy.

Following his ordination in 1960, Bishop Theodosios (Sideris) worked with Archbishop Iakovos (Coucouzis) as a Vicar-Bishop. He was assigned to the Sixth Archdiocesan District, with his see in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Transfer to Canada, 1967

In December, 1967, Bishop Theodosios (Sideris) was transferred in order to serve as the Bishop of the Ninth (Canadian) Archdiocesan District, with the see in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Retirement, 1973

Bishop Theodosios (Sideris) retired on 1 November, 1973, at the age of 70, and he remained in Canada for some time. During his retirement, he served occasionally at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Belleville, Ontario.

Later, he moved to Rockville, Virginia.

Repose, 1978

Bishop Theodosios (Sideris) fell asleep in the Lord on 20 April, 1978, in Richmond, Virginia, after having suffered a heart attack.

On Monday, 24 April, 1978, the Funeral Services for the Burial of a Hierarch were offered at the Greek Orthodox Temple of The Three Hierarchs in Brooklyn, New York.

After the funeral services, his body was interred at the Mount Olivet Cemetery, in Maspeth, Long Island.

Grave-marker (enlarged name on left)

— Bishop of Ancona, in the Sixth District (Pittsburgh) 1960-1967. Preceded by : Bishop Polyevktos (Finfinis) of Aneon. Succeeded by : Bishop Gerasimos (Papadopoulos) of Abydos.

— Vicar-Bishop of the Greek Archdiocese of North and South America.

— Bishop of Ancona, in the Ninth District (Toronto) 1967-1973. Preceded by : Bishop Timotheos (Haloftis) of Rodostolou. Succeeded by : Metropolitan Sotirios (Athanassoulas).

— Former Bishop of Ancona 1973-1978.

References

Orthodoxwiki biography

Metropolis of Pittsburgh biography

Russian Wikipedia biography

Additional information :

Pappayoannou, Priest George (1984). ‘The Historical Development of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas’ in Licas, F.K. (ed.). “Companion of the Greek Orthodox Church”, ed. F K Licas (New York, NY : Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas, 1984), pp. 178-206.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., "Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America" (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.

Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Pittsburgh

Annunciation to the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Toronto, Ontario

Archbishop Iakovos (Coucouzis)

Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)

Bishop Polyevktos (Finfinis)

Bishop Gerasimos (Papadopoulos)

Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto web-site

Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto history

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America web-site

Wikipedia article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Orthodoxwiki article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America

Ecumenical Patriarchate web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Patriarchate of Constantinople

Findagrave reference for Bishop Theodosios

Departed Bishops in/of Canada

Canadian Orthodox Church History Project, no. 45, p. 157