Following undergoing surgery at Weiss Memorial Hospital, the leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago, Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago died on Friday.
He was born Michael Garmatis in Athens, Greece, in 1928. Later in his life he was a younger clergyman in Boston where he earned his doctorate from Boston University and taught at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.
The 89-year-old served in Chicago for 38 years having been elected and enthroned as Bishop of Chicago in 1979 and served until his death.
“Under his 38-year tenure, the ministries of the Greek Orthodox Church increased greatly through several initiatives, especially in philanthropy and the area of social justice,” the Church said in the statement.
The Metropolis of Chicago consists of 34 parishes in Illinois and 25 in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and northern Indiana.