Georgios Altouvas
Georgios Altouvas | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Syros and Milos | |
 | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Syros and Milos |
| Appointed | 28 August 2026 |
| Installed | 31 October 2026 |
| Predecessor | Petros Stefanou |
| Other post | Apostolic Administrator of Candia |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 3 October 1998 by Nikolaos Foskolos |
| Consecration | 7 February 2021 by Sevastianos Rossolatos |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Georgios Altouvas 28 September 1973 Athens, Greece |
| Education | Pontifical Teresianum Institute |
| Motto | Omnia amando donantur |
Coat of arms |  |
Georgios Altouvas (Greek: Γεώργιος Αλτουβάς; born 28 September 1973) is a Greek Roman Catholic prelate who serves as the Archbishop-Bishop of Syros and Milos and Apostolic Administrator of Candia. He was appointed to these positions by Pope Leo XIV on 28 August 2026, having previously served as Archbishop of Corfu, Zakynthos and Kefalonia and Apostolic Administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Thessaloniki. He retains the personal title of archbishop.
Early life and education
Altouvas was born in Athens, Greece, on 28 September 1973. He attended primary and secondary school in the Patissia district of Athens, studying at schools run by the Marist Brothers.
From 1992 to 1997, he studied philosophy and theology at the Theological Faculty of Apulia in Italy, residing at the Pontifical Regional Seminary Pius XI in Molfetta. On 5 October 1997, he was ordained a deacon in his home parish. He received his priestly ordination on 3 October 1998 at the Cathedral of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite in Athens, from Archbishop Nikolaos Foskolos of Athens.
In 1999, he obtained a licentiate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical Teresianum Institute in Rome.
Priesthood
After completing his studies in Italy, Altouvas returned to Greece in 1999 and began serving as an assistant parish priest at the Cathedral of Saint Dionysius in Athens. In 2001, he was appointed parish priest of the parishes of Saint Barbara and the Holy Apostles, where he also served for three years as an ecclesiastical assistant responsible for youth ministry.
In 2015, he became parish priest of the Cathedral of Saint Dionysius in Athens. He also served as a member of the College of Consultors, a judge of the ecclesiastical tribunal of Athens, and national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies.
Altouvas speaks Greek, Italian, English and French.
Episcopal ministry
Archbishop of Corfu
On 14 September 2020, Pope Francis appointed Altouvas Archbishop of Corfu, Zakynthos and Kefalonia, succeeding Yannis Spiteris. He was also appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Thessaloniki. At the time of his appointment, he was serving as parish priest of the Cathedral of Saint Dionysius in Athens.
His episcopal ordination, originally scheduled for 14 November 2020 at the Cathedral of Saint Dionysius in Athens, and his installation in Corfu, scheduled for 22 November 2020, were postponed because of restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Archdiocese of Corfu announced the postponement on 11 November 2020, following government measures suspending public religious ceremonies.
Altouvas was consecrated a bishop on 7 February 2021 at the Cathedral of Saint Dionysius in Athens, with Archbishop Sevastianos Rossolatos serving as the principal consecrator. He was installed as Archbishop of Corfu, Zakynthos and Kefalonia on 14 February 2021. He subsequently assumed his responsibilities as Apostolic Administrator of Thessaloniki, being installed in that capacity on 13 June 2021.
Archbishop of Syros and Milos
On 28 August 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed Altouvas Bishop of Syros and Milos and Apostolic Administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of Candia, transferring him from the Archdiocese of Corfu, Zakynthos and Kefalonia and the Apostolic Vicariate of Thessaloniki. The appointment retained his personal title of archbishop.
He was installed as Bishop of Syros and Milos on 31 October 2026. He retains the personal title of Archbishop of Santorini and serving as Apostolic Administrator of Crete (Candia). Also Altouvas continued to serve as Apostolic Administrator of Corfu, Zakynthos and Kefalonia and of the Apostolic Vicariate of Thessaloniki pending the appointment of successors.
References
- ↑ "Rinuncia e nomina dell'Arcivescovo Metropolita di Corfù, Zante e Cefalonia ed Amministratore Apostolico del Vicariato Apostolico di Thessaloniki (Grecia)" (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 14 September 2020.
- 1 2 "Mons. Georgios Altouvas, nostro ex-alunno greco, eletto Arcivescovo metropolita" (in Italian). Pontifical Regional Seminary Pius XI, Molfetta. 22 November 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 "Grèce: nouvel archevêque à Corfou, la minorité catholique enrichie" (in French). Vatican News. 14 September 2020.
- 1 2 3 "Archbishop Georgios Altouvas". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
- ↑ "Κέρκυρα: Αναβολή των προγραμματιζόμενων Τελετών Χειροτονίας και Ενθρονίσεως του νεοεκλεγμένου Αρχιεπισκόπου Γεωργίου" (in Greek). Catholic Ecclesia News. 11 November 2020.
- ↑ "Nomina del Vescovo di Syros con Milos, Santorini e Amministratore Apostolico ad nutum Sanctae Sedis di Candia" (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 28 August 2026.
- ↑ "Καθολικός Αρχιεπίσκοπος Γ. Αλτουβάς: «Άνθρωποι που αγαπιούνται δεν ξεχνιούνται» – Από την Κέρκυρα στη Σύρο με οδηγό την αγάπη και την ενότητα" [Catholic Archbishop G. Altouvas: "People who love each other are not forgotten" – From Corfu to Syros, guided by love and unity]. Kerkyraiki Apopsi (in Greek). 18 October 2026. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
External links
- Archbishop Georgios Altouvas at Catholic-Hierarchy.org
- Pontifical Regional Seminary Pius XI profile (Italian)