Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Mexico
The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Mexico, headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico, is an eparchy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Its current primate is Metropolitan Athenagoras of Mexico. History. Following the retirement of Archbishop Iakovos (Coucouzis) of America, Ecumenical Bartholomew I of Constantinople determined that the Church in the Western Hemisphere would be better served, if the then Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America were to be re-structured into separate jurisdictions. Subsequently in July 1996, a new Metropolis for Central America and the Islands of the Caribbean was established, to which Metropolitan  Athenagoras was elected. The Metropolis covers a vast region, including Mexico, all the Countries of Central America, two Countries of South America, Colombia and Venezuela and all the Island Countries of the Caribbean, including Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. Since the Holy Metropolis of Mexico is under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, thus functioning separately and apart from the Archdiocese of America, nevertheless our Metropolis reflects and considers itself a daughter Church of the Church of America, which nurtured the region of Central and South America throughout most of the previous century. Finally, as the  Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Mexico for the aforementioned Countries, we are the only legal and legitimate entity for this vast region, representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Greek Orthodox Church. Organization. The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Mexico Central America and the Caribbean Islands is a single metropolis with the countries of: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia, Venezuela, and the Caribbean Islands. The central church, the Archdiocesan Church of Agia Sophia, is the headquarters of the Metropolis.