Holy Metropolis of Alexandroupolis, Traianoupoli, and Samothrace | |
|---|---|
| Orthodox | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Greece |
| Headquarters | Alexandroupolis |
| Statistics | |
| Parishes | 61 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Eastern Orthodox |
| Rite | Byzantine Rite |
| Established | 1922AD |
| Cathedral | Saint Nicholas of Alexandroupoli |
| Language | Greek |
| Current leadership | |
| Parent church | Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople andChurch of Greece |
| Governance | Episcopal |
| Patriarch | Bartholomew I of Constantinople |
| Metropolitan | Anthimos Koukouridis |
| Website | |
| https://imalex.gr/ | |
TheHoly Metropolis of Alexandroupolis, Traianoupoli, and Samothrace (Greek:Ιερά Μητρόπολις Αλεξανδρουπόλεως, Τραϊανουπόλεως και Σαμοθράκης) is adiocese of theGreek Orthodox Church, with its seat inAlexandroupolis in westernThrace. It currently has 61 parishes and 2 monasteries. Since 2004, its current Metropolitan isAnthimos Koukouridis.[1]
Christianity first arrived in western Thrace in at least 161 AD, with the arrival ofSaint Glyceria inTraianoupoli. Traianoupoli (near modern dayDidymoteicho)[2] served as an important center ofearly Christians until at least 305 AD, during theGreat Persecution in which its first bishop Alexander of Traianoupoli was martyred on orders byDiocletian. The first historically attested bishop of Traianoupoli, Theodoulos, was characterized as a "good and orthodox man" who fought against theArians. Since the 5th century, the diocese was elevated to Metropolis status, where it stayed at that status until at least 879 during the reign ofLeo VI the Wise. After the destruction of Traianoupoli, the seat of the diocese was moved toAinos and diminished to an exarchate. It was briefely reelevated to Metropolitan status sometime between 1341 and 1351, and in 1646 when it was permanently reelevated to Metropolitan status.[2] In 1885, it absorbed parts of the nearby Metropolis ofMaroneia, including what would now be Alexandroupolis.[3]
The diocese as is today was created as a result of theTreaty of Lausanne on November 17, 1922 by synodal decision during the reign ofPatriarch Melitios IV Metaxakis due to the influx ofGreek refugees from Asia minor, many of which werePontic Greeks including its first bishopGervasios (Sarasitis). On June 5, 1934 it was expanded to includeSamothrace which at the time was part of the metropolis ofMaroneia.[3][4]