Saint Vladimir’s Seminary (SVOTS) Alumnus Hierodeacon Aetios (formerly Dimitrios Nikiforos) was ordained to the holy priesthood Sunday, November 3, in Istanbul, Turkey, and was made grand ecclesiarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Very Rev. Grand Ecclesiarch Aetios was ordained by the hand of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Venerable Patriarchal Church of St. George.
Trained as an attorney, Fr. Aetios was initially drawn to SVOTS due to its strength in canon law and historical disciplines. He graduated from the Seminary summa cum laude with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in 2018. He was also selected as the class valedictorian. Hailing from Greece, he called Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Brooklyn, NY, home during his time at St. Vladimir’s.
Father Aetios will now serve the Ecumenical Patriarchate with the official title of Grand Ecclesiarch of the Holy Great Church of Christ. He has also been working at the Chief Secretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, 1st Patriarchal Office.
The community of St. Vladimir’s Seminary wishes the newly ordained Very Rev. Grand Ecclesiarch Aetios many years!
(Photos: Ecumenical Patriarchate)
