Cyprian of Oropos and Fili

Kyprianos (Koutsoumpas) (1935 – May 30, 2013) was metropolitan of Oropos and Fyli (Greek: Μητροπολίτης Ωρωπού καί Φυλής Κυπριανός) and President of the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece (Holy Synod in Resistance).

Early life

Koutsoumpas was born in Agrinio in 1935. Upon completion of his secondary education he entered an Orthodox seminary, under the supervision of his spiritual father the Elder Philotheos (Zervakos), himself a spiritual son of St. Nectarios of Aegina.

Priesthood and Episcopacy

Koutsoumpas was tonsured with the name Kyprianos (Cyprian) in the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian on the island of Patmos. In 1961, the then hieromonk Kyprianos founded the Monastery of Sts. Cyprian and Justina in Fyli, Attica, becoming its first abbot. On February 7, 1979 he was consecrated bishop of Oropos and Fili, and on April 5, 1985, he was elected as the President of the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece (Holy Synod in Resistance).

Koutsoumpas is a renowned author of books and articles on Orthodox theology and spirituality, many of which have been translated to different languages. Some of his works include: A Manual for Coenobitic Monastics; The Monastic Life; The World Council of Churches and the Interfaith Movement; Eldress Myrtidiotissa; "Schism" or "Walling Off"?; and Do You Have a Ticket? Koutsoumpas was the recipient of two theological degrees, honoris causa: a Licentiate in Theology from the Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies, and a Doctorate in Theology, from the Orthodox Theological Academy of St. Martin. In 2007 he fell into a coma after a massive stroke. Koutsoumpas died on May 30, 2013 at the Monastery of Saint Cyprian and Justina in Fyli.