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Metropolis of Didymoteicho, Orestias and Soufli

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Holy Metropolis of Didymoteicho, Orestias and Soufli
Orthodox
Church of Panagia Elefterotria in Didymoticho
Location
CountryGreece
HeadquartersDidymoteicho
Statistics
Parishes103
Information
DenominationEastern Orthodox
RiteByzantine Rite
Establishedc. 434
LanguageGreek
Current leadership
Parent churchEcumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and Church of Greece
GovernanceEpiscopal
PatriarchBartholomew I of Constantinople
MetropolitanDamaskinos Karpathakis
Website
https://www.imdos.gr/

The Holy Metropolis of Didymoteicho, Orestias and Soufli Greek: Ιερά Μητροπολίτης Διδυμοτείχου, Ορεστιάδος και Σουφλίου Δαμασκηνός) is a diocese of the Greek Orthodox Church, with its seat in Didymoteicho in western Thrace. Since 2009 its current Metropolitan is Damaskinos Karpathakis.[1]

History

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The diocese was first mentioned in 434-435 when Bishop Hierophilos was transferred from Trapezou to the Diocese of Plotinoupolis; Didymoteicho was referred to as one of the cities within the province of Hemimontus. It was also mentioned in the Second Council of Nicaea as having a bishop named Georgios. During the Fourth Council of Constantinople it was transferred to the province of Rhodope in which it was first referred to as the bishopric of Didymouteicho; Leo VI the Wise noted that Didymouteicho was the seat of the Metropolis of Traianoupolis. In 1189, Isaac II Angelos reorganized the Metropolis of Taianoupolis and formed the new diocese of Didymouteicho.[2]

In March 1821, the metropolis of Drystra and Proslav was transferred to the diocese of Didymotaicho.[3]

The diocese is one of the few metropolises still remaining after Ottoman rule. Extensive islamification continued until the Russo-Turkish War when Russian troops entered the city in April 1828. The resulting Treaty of Adrianople allowed for greater religious freedoms for the Christian communities, and many new churches were built around that time; the reforms of the Tanzimat, specifically the Edict of Gülhane expanded those freedoms and rights.[2]

The area was contented during the Balkan wars; in 1917 Metropolitan Philaretos was moved to a monastery in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria and later to Sophia where he remained until 1919.[2]

In 1924, Soufli was detached from the diocese and formed into its own metropolis. In 1931, the diocese of Neo Oristias was dissolved and absorbed into the diocese of Didymoteicho. The city was occupied during the German invasion of Greece on April 7, 1941. The diocese assumed all administrative responsibilities as the German occupation didn't establish an occupational government in the region.[2]

Bishops

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Βιογραφικό | Ιερά Μητρόπολις Διδυμοτείχου Ορεστιάδος & Σουφλίου". www.imdos.gr. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Ιστορικό | Ιερά Μητρόπολις Διδυμοτείχου Ορεστιάδος & Σουφλίου". www.imdos.gr.
  3. ^ "Acte patriarhie cesti referitoare la Mitropolia Proilavului" (PDF). Studii Istorice Greco-romane: 300. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
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