Ignatius (Georgakopoulos) of Demetrias

Metropolitan Ignatius (Georgakopoulos) of Demetrias (1956-) is a diocesan bishop of the Church of Greece. He presides over the Metropolis of Demetrias, which is based in Volos and includes the prefecture of Magnesia and part of the prefecture of Larisa.
==Life==
The future Metropolitan Ignatius was born in 1956 in Gortyneia of Arkadia. In 1971, at the age of 15, he began publication of the youth magazine Young Fighters. In 1974 he achieved first place in the examinations of the Superior Ecclesiastical School of Rizareios. In the same year he became a novice, and on July 17, 1975 he became a monk.
Also during that year, he was accepted into the School of Theology at the University of Athens, where he completed his studies. In 1976 he was ordained to the diaconate, and in 1978 he became archdeacon of the metropolis of Piraeus. In the same year he took on the management of the youth office of the Metropolis, the publication of a magazine for young people Hopeful Youth, and of the diocesan newspaper Church of Piraeus. He was vice-president of the World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth Syndesmos for ten years.
In 1983 he was ordained to the priesthood, and in 1984 he became canon of Piraeus. In 1988 he took charge of the management of the radio station "Church of Piraeus 91.2 FM." In 1992 he started a Sunday morning TV broadcast, Arhontariki, on the Greek television network ET-1. Upon the election of the Archbishop Christodoulos (Paraskevaides), to Metropolitan of Demetrias, Fr. Ignatius took on the post of press officer in that metropolis. 
His Eminence is a member of the National Transplant Council and has taken part in national and international medical conventions. He has visited all the Orthodox churches of the world and has been honored by many of them. He is a founding member and member of the Administrative Council of the Scientists' Association of Piraeus.
In 1998, upon the election of Metropolitan Christodoulos of Demetrias as Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Fr. Ignatius was elected as successor to the see of Demetrias and Almuros.
==External links==
*Listing at the Orthodox Research Institute
*Metropolis of Demetria Official Website
Category:Bishops
Category:University of Athens Theology School Graduates