The Metropolitan of Lagada, Ioannis, passed away in the early morning hours. The blessed man had contracted a coronavirus and was being treated at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki.…………
He was positive for the virus on Friday and has been fighting to stay alive ever since, but ended up on 6.36 in the morning.
John (Tassias) was born in Thessaloniki in 1958. He graduated from the Ecclesiastical Pedagogical Academy in 1979 and the Department of Pastoral and Social Theology of the University of Thessaloniki in 1982. In the same year he was ordained a deacon in the Diocese of Thessaloniki and took over the management of the Youth Office. The 1983 He was ordained an elder and served in the sanctuary of Saints Cyril and Methodius until 1994.
Subsequently, was placed in the sanctuary of the patron saint Agios Dimitrios as a priestly head. From 1983 served as abbot of the holy monastery of Agia Theodora of Thessaloniki and from 1994 served as the first councilor of the Holy Metropolis of Thessaloniki. At that time he led the claim of the Rotunda in Thessaloniki by the Church as a place of worship and now the Rotunda is given by the Ministry of Culture for certain functions every year.
The Blessed One was elected on 10 May 2010 from the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece as Metropolitan of Lagada. He was ordained a bishop on 16 May 2010 by Archbishop Ieronymos in the sanctuary of Agios Dimitrios Patron Saint of Thessaloniki. He has authored numerous theological articles and studies. He has taken part in theological conferences. He has taught in catechism tuition centers and in the Postgraduate School of Clergy of the Holy Metropolis of Thessaloniki. For about 20 years presented radio and television shows. In addition, has taught at the Higher Ecclesiastical School of Thessaloniki.
The Exodus Sequence of the blessed Metropolitan Langadas, Litis and Rentinis Mr. Ioannou will be sung tomorrow, at 12.00 at the Metropolitan Church of Agia Paraskevi Langadas by the Metropolitan of Serres and Nigritis Theologos, who was also appointed vicar of the vacant Diocese of Langada, Litis and Rentinis, compliance with all prescribed health measures for coronavirus protection.
On behalf of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, Archimandrite Dorotheos Paparis will deliver the funeral speech, A’ Its secretary.