Apostolos Koulafakis elected Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Canada

The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected Metropolitan Apostolos Koulafakis, born in Rhodes in 1969, as the new Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Canada. The unanimous vote took place on 22 July 2026 at the Phanar under Patriarch Bartholomew I, succeeding Metropolitan Soterios who retired after 52 years of service.

Koulafakis previously served as Metropolitan of New Jersey and has held pastoral and academic positions in the United States after completing theological studies in Greece and a Master of Sacred Theology in Boston. His election was welcomed by Archbishop Elpidoforos of America, who praised Koulafakis’s “real joy” and prayed for a fruitful ministry across the Canadian Greek‑Orthodox diaspora.

The new archbishop inherits a vibrant community of Greek Orthodox parishes throughout Canada, from British Columbia to Newfoundland, serving over 250,000 faithful of Greek heritage.