Our Archbishop
Archbishop Michael (Kampourellis) of the Greek Orthodox Missionary Archdiocese of America
Archbishop Michael was born on October 28, 1969. From an early age, he felt a deep calling to the monastic life. At seventeen, he entered the Holy Monastery of Pantokrator on Mount Athos on October 17, 1987, beginning a lifelong journey of faith and service to the Church. On March 13, 1988, he was tonsured a monk of the Small Schema, and on September 18, 1991, he received the tonsure of the Great Schema at the Holy Monastery of Antinitsas, under Metropolitan Damaskinos of the Church of Greece, and was enrolled in the Holy Monastery of St. Blasios of Stylida.
His ordained ministry began in the fall of 1991. On October 12, he was ordained Deacon at the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen in New Magnesia, Lamia, and on November 15, he was ordained Hieromonk at the Cathedral Church of St. Ambrose of the Holy Metropolis of Phthiotis, both by Metropolitan Damaskinos. He was elevated to Archimandrite on March 28, 1993, by Metropolitan Maximos of Cephalonia and All the Ionian Islands, and on May 28, 1993, was honored with the rank of Spiritual Father by the late Archbishop Auxentios.
In April 1992, Archbishop Michael joined the Holy Synod of Archbishop Auxentios of the Greek Old Calendarist Church, where he served in parishes and monasteries across Greece for several years. On May 11, 1997, he was consecrated as Metropolitan of Olympus at the Church of the Life-Giving Spring in Agios Stefanos, Attica, by Metropolitan Germanos of Talantios and Lokris, and Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Krini and Aneon.
In January 2006, Archbishop Michael joined the Greek Orthodox Missionary Archdiocese of America, where he served as Exarch in Greece, bringing with him a wealth of pastoral experience and devotion. Following the resignation of Archbishop Theophil in June 2008, he was unanimously elected as the third Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Missionary Archdiocese of America on June 12, 2008. He continues to shepherd the Archdiocese with dedication and love for the faithful entrusted to his care.
Archbishop Michael’s Lines of Apostolic Succession
Archbishop Michael’s formation prior to consecration
1987–1991 – Monastic formation & ordinations
- Oct. 17, 1987 — Entered Holy Monastery of Pantokrator, Mount Athos
- Mar. 13, 1988 — Tonsured monk of the Small Schema
- Sep. 18, 1991 — Tonsured monk of the Great Schema, Holy Monastery of Antinitsas, by Metropolitan Damaskinοs of the Church of Greece; enrolled at Holy Monastery of St. Blasios of Stylida
- Oct. 12, 1991 — Ordained Deacon at the Church of Sts. Constantine & Helen, New Magnesia, Lamia (by Met. Damaskinοs)
- Nov. 15, 1991 — Ordained Hieromonk at the Cathedral of St. Ambrose, Holy Metropolis of Phthiotis (by Met. Damaskinοs)
- Apr. 1992 — Joined the Holy Synod of Archbishop Auxentios (G.O.C.)
- Mar. 28, 1993 — Elevated to Archimandrite by Metropolitan Maximos of Cephalonia & All the Ionian Islands
- May 28, 1993 — Elevated to the rank of Spiritual Father by Archbishop Auxentios
- 1992–1996 — Served in various parishes and monasteries of the Auxentios Synod
Episcopal consecration of Archbishop Michael — 1997
- Metropolitan Germanos of Talantios & Lokris – Greek Old Calendar (G.O.C.) · Primary co-consecrator within the Auxentios Synod
- Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Krini & Aneon – Greek Old Calendar (G.O.C.) · Second co-consecrator – Auxentios Synod
May 11, 1997 · Agios Stefanos, Attica Michael (Kampourellis) consecrated Metropolitan of Olympus
Church of the Life-Giving Spring (Zoodochos Pigi)
- Co-consecrated by Metropolitan Germanos of Talantios & Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Krini (Canonical note: Apostolic Canon I requires a minimum of two bishops for valid episcopal consecration.)
Jan. 10, 2006 — Joined the Greek Orthodox Missionary Archdiocese of America, appointed Exarch in Greece
Jun. 12, 2008 — Elected Archbishop unanimously following the brief tenure of Archbishop Theophilos
