Cherubim (Doukatas)

Metropolitan Cherubim (Doukatas) of Vithynia and Pamphylia is the current First Hierarch of The Holy Metropolitan Synod of Genuine Orthodox Christians of the Patristic Calendar (Avlona Synod or GOC-A).

Birth

His Beatitude was born in Athens in 1956.

Formal Studies

Prior to undertaking his monastic vows, His Beatitude received an Electronics degree. He also holds a title as Conductor of Byzantine Music from the National Auditorium.

Ecclesiastical Life

Met. Cherubim entered into the monastic life in 1981 under the direction of the then Archimandrite Angelos (Anastasiou)‎. He joined the brotherhood of the Monastery of Archangel Michael in Oropos, Attiki. In 1983 he received the Great Schema. He was ordained a Deacon and Priest in 1983 by the late Metropolitan of Neo Ionia, Timotheos.

In 1986, he joined the Orthodox Church of Greece - Holy Synod in Resistance, along with Archimandrite Angelos (Anastasiou)‎.

Episcopacy

On June 16, 2010, with the assistance of the Holy Synod of Milan under Metropolitan Evlogios, consecrated a vicar bishop of Pentapoleos for the Avlona Metropolia.

Election as Metropolitan

In April 2021, the Avlona Synod was decimated by the sudden deaths of Met.Angelos (Anastasiou)‎, the synodal secretary Abp. Porfyrios (Alexandrou) and vicar bishop Gabriel of Pamphylia. These deaths followed within weeks of the repose of Bp. Avacum of Romania. On May 15, 2021, the synod met in person and by proxy, as many foreign bishops were prohibited from travel, and elected Bp. Cherubim as Metropolitan. In memory of his reposed fellow vicar bishop Gabriel, he added the title of Pamphylia to his then title of Vithynia, leaving the see for Avlona vacant in honor of Met. Angelos.