Holy Metropolis of Didymoteicho, Orestias and Soufli | |
|---|---|
| Orthodox | |
 Church of Panagia Elefterotria in Didymoticho | |
| Location | |
| Country | Greece |
| Headquarters | Didymoteicho |
| Statistics | |
| Parishes | 103 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Eastern Orthodox |
| Rite | Byzantine Rite |
| Established | c. 434 |
| Language | Greek |
| Current leadership | |
| Parent church | Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople andChurch of Greece |
| Governance | Episcopal |
| Patriarch | Bartholomew I of Constantinople |
| Metropolitan | Damaskinos Karpathakis |
| Website | |
| https://www.imdos.gr/ | |
TheHoly Metropolis of Didymoteicho, Orestias and Soufli (Greek:Ιερά Μητροπολίτης Διδυμοτείχου, Ορεστιάδος και Σουφλίου) is adiocese of theGreek Orthodox Church, with its seat inDidymoteicho in westernThrace. Since 2009 its current Metropolitan isDamaskinos Karpathakis.[1]
The diocese was first mentioned in 434-435 when Bishop Hierophilos was transferred fromTrapezou to the Diocese ofPlotinoupolis; Didymoteicho was referred to as one of the cities within the province ofHemimontus. It was also mentioned in theSecond Council of Nicaea as having a bishop named Georgios. During theFourth Council of Constantinople it was transferred to the province ofRhodope in which it was first referred to as the bishopric of Didymouteicho;Leo VI the Wise noted that Didymouteicho was the seat of theMetropolis of Traianoupolis. In 1189,Isaac II Angelos reorganized the Metropolis of Taianoupolis and formed the new diocese of Didymouteicho.[2]
In March 1821, the metropolis of Drystra andProslav was transferred to the diocese of Didymotaicho.[3]
The diocese is one of the few metropolises still remaining after Ottoman rule. Extensiveislamification continued until theRusso-Turkish War when Russian troops entered the city in April 1828. The resultingTreaty of Adrianople allowed for greater religious freedoms for the Christian communities, and many new churches were built around that time; the reforms of theTanzimat, specifically theEdict of Gülhane expanded those freedoms and rights.[2]
The area was contented during theBalkan wars; in 1917 Metropolitan Philaretos was moved to a monastery inVeliko Tarnovo,Bulgaria and later toSophia where he remained until 1919.[2]
In 1924,Soufli was attached to the diocese from its own metropolis. In 1931, the diocese of Neo Oristias was dissolved and absorbed into the diocese of Didymoteicho. The city was occupied during theGerman invasion of Greece on April 7, 1941. The diocese assumed all administrative responsibilities as the German occupation didn't establish an occupational government in the region.[2]
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