CHICAGO – The City Council passed an ordinance officially adding the honorary title Metropolitan Iakovos Way to Burton Place in downtown Chicago in recognition of Metropolitan Iakovos’ years of service to Chicago’s citizens.

This recognition, a surprise to Metropolitan Iakovos, was unveiled at a private gathering at the Metropolis of Chicago offices at 40 East Burton Place on October 27.

Later it was announced during the yearly Metropolitan Iakovos Name Day Dinner before an audience of clergy and parishioners from all areas of the Metropolis of Chicago.

Metropolitan Iakovos has served as the spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago since May 1979.

Under his leadership the Metropolis has increased its efforts to assist the homeless and all those in need, especially through the efforts of the Metropolis Philanthropy Committee. He has founded new Youth programs, established various local dialogues with other faith communities, and continues to work with area religious leaders in promoting justice in our society.

Other programs of the Metropolis established by Metropolitan Iakovos include the Bishop Iakovos Scholarship Assistance Program, the Bishop’s Task-Force on AIDS, the Metropolis Jr. Olympics, the Festival of Orthodox Books, and numerous programs in religion and Greek education.

Eastern Orthodox Christians are the second largest Christian faith tradition worldwide. The Metropolis of Chicago oversees all Greek Orthodox Parishes within Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, as well as eastern Missouri and northwest Indiana.

More information on His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago is available at chicago.goarch.org. The legislative action by the City of Chicago is available at chicago.councilmatic.org.

Beginning his higher education in Athens and continuing his studies and service in the Boston area, Metropolitan Iakovos was appointed Archdiocesan Vicar of the Diocese of Detroit by Archbishop Iakovos in February 1968.

One year later, he was elevated to the rank of Bishop by the Holy See of Constantinople. He was consecrated Bishop of Apameia (an Auxiliary Bishop of Archbishop Iakovos) on Christmas Day of 1969, and appointed to the Diocese of Detroit as Bishop of that district.

In 1971 he was appointed President of Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Mass.. while remaining as administrative overseer of the Diocese of Detroit.

He simultaneously served as the Bishop of the New England area during his five-year tenure as President of Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology.

Following the reorganization of the Archdiocesan Districts into Dioceses, Bishop Iakovos was enthroned by His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America on May 1, 1979 as the Bishop of Chicago at the Annunciation Cathedral.

On October 22-23, Iakovos visited Saint Iakovos Greek Orthodox Church in Valparaiso to celebrate and lead the Saturday services marking the beginning of the Feast of the Metropolitan’s Patron Saint and then staying to officiate Sunday services.

Father Andrew Georganas of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Elmhurst, IL, said in his sermon on October 23, “Metropolitan Iakovos continues to lead with faith, humility, and dignity. His love is unconditional, nurturing, guiding, blessing, building-up. A shepherd whose door and heart is always open to us all. A man of Christ, who continuously gathers us, his children, to the well of our faith. Many years to you, our dear spiritual father and shepherd.”