Metropolitan Emanuel
Biography of Metropolitan Emanuel
Date of Birth: 19.12.1958
Metropolitan Emanuel, in secular life Emanuel Adamakis - bishop of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, metropolitan of Gaul, metropolitan of Chalcedon. Since 2003, he has been leading the French metropolis of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Place of Birth. Education. He was born on December 19, 1958, in the city of Agios-Nikolaos on the island of Crete. He completed secondary school in Heraklion and the academy in Heraklion, obtaining a bachelor's degree.
From 1979 to 1984, he studied philosophy at the Catholic Institute in Paris and theology at the St. Sergius Theological Institute. In 1981, he did an internship at the Institute of Eastern Churches in Regensburg.
In 1984, he continued his studies at the School of Higher Practical Studies, the Institute of Higher Ecological Research in Paris, and the Department of Religious Studies at Sorbonne. In 1985, he obtained a Master's degree in Prospective Studies from the Sorbonne University.
In 1985, he was ordained deacon and priest. He served in the clergy of the Belgian metropolis.
In 1986, he began doctoral studies at the Holy Cross School of Theology in Boston, where in 1987 he obtained a Master's degree in Theology.
In 1987, he returned to Europe, where until 1996 he served as the protosykel of the Belgian metropolis. At the same time, he served as a parish priest at the Archangel Michael and Gabriel Church in Brussels and taught Orthodoxy at the European School in Luxembourg and Brussels.
In 1992, he was appointed representative of the Patriarchate of Constantinople in the 'Church and Society' committee of the Conference of European Churches (CEC).
In 1995, he received the dignity of archimandrite and was appointed representative of the Patriarchate of Constantinople to the European Union in Brussels. He has repeatedly drawn the attention of MEPs to violations of the rights of the Patriarchate of Constantinople on Turkish territory.
On December 11, 1996, in Brussels, he was consecrated as the titular bishop of Riga, vicar of the Belgian metropolis.
In 2001, the Patriarchate of Constantinople entrusted him with the duties of leading Interreligious Dialogue with monotheistic religions.
On January 20, 2003, Bishop Emanuel was elevated to the rank of metropolitan and appointed head of the Metropolis of Gaul, while retaining the position of director of the Orthodox Church Office to the European Union. Additionally, he was entrusted with dialogue with the Oriental (non-Chalcedonian) churches.
Since 2009, he has been leading the conference of European churches. He is the chairman of the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of France. As chairman of the Conference of Orthodox Bishops, he is the first hierarch of France.
On January 16, 2013, due to the death of Archbishop Komansky Gabriel, he was appointed bishop of the Western European Exarchate of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
In July 2013, he headed the delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople at the celebrations of the 1025th anniversary of the baptism of Rus.
On August 17, 2014, he headed the delegation of the Patriarchate of Constantinople during the enthronement of the newly elected head of the UPC, Metropolitan Onufriy, in Kyiv. However, he did not take part in the liturgy (he did not co-celebrate), which was related to his dissatisfaction with the assigned place among the hierarchs.
In February 2015, together with 10 other clergy of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, he obtained Turkish citizenship, which allows him to participate in the election of the Patriarch of Constantinople. The Patriarchate of Constantinople did not clarify whether they had to renounce their Greek passports after obtaining Turkish citizenship.
In addition to Greek, he is fluent in French and English and knows German and Italian.
On December 15, 2018, he presided over the Unification Council in Kyiv, where the Orthodox Church of Ukraine was established.
On February 16, 2021, by decision of the Holy Synod, he was elected Metropolitan of Chalcedon, the second in the hierarchy of the clergy of the Church of Constantinople.
Awards. Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honor (2010, France). Grand Commander of the Order of Honor (November 14, 2011, Greece).
Order 'For Merits' of the I degree (Ukraine, July 27, 2013) - for significant personal contribution to the development of spirituality, long-standing fruitful church activity, and on the occasion of the celebrations in Ukraine of the 1025th anniversary of the baptism of Kievan Rus.
12.05.2023.