Consecration of Ambrosios Nikolaidis, assistant bishop of Serres, to bishop of Christoupolis, June 5, 1911

ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ

On June 5, 1911, the ordination of Ambrosios Nikolaidis, assistant bishop of Serres, to bishop of Christoupolis took place with particular splendor and religious reverence. This important ceremony took place in the Metropolitan Church of Serres, one of the most imposing churches in the region.

Ambrosios Nikolaidis, known for his devotion and work in the Church, was ordained by three prominent metropolitans of the time. Specifically, his ordination was done by the Metropolitan of Serres Apostolos, the Metropolitan of Drama Agathangelos and the Metropolitan of Grevena Emilianos, who with their participation emphasized the special importance of the event for the local church community.

During the burning of Serres by the Bulgarians, he ran through the streets amidst the flames and encouraged his flock.

Ambrosios Nikolaidis (Proussa, 1881 - 1960) was Metropolitan of Fthiotida, Asia Minor by origin. He was born in 1881 in Bursa, Asia Minor and came from a wealthy family. After his high school studies, he studied at the Holy Theological School of Halki, Constantinople, from which he graduated with honors. In 1904 he was ordained a deacon and in 1905 he was promoted to archdeacon of Kassandrias Ioannou and from 1906 to 1911 he was protosigelo of the bishop of Veria and then of Serres, Apostolos. In 1911 he was ordained bishop of Christoupolis and in 1914 he was elected metropolitan of Nafpaktia and Evrytania, where he remained until 1932, when he took over as metropolitan of Fthiotida in the place of Joakim Alexopoulos, who was transferred to the metropolis of Dimitrias and Almyros.

Ambrose had a broad theological, classical and encyclopedic education. He also spoke French, English, Turkish and Arabic. He began his national action in Veria, where he was the "soul" of the guerrilla struggle. The neo-Turkish committee sentenced him to death and its organs attempted to assassinate him twice. During the burning of Serres by the Bulgarians, he ran through the streets amidst the flames and encouraged his flock. From 1914, as bishop of Nafpaktia and then of Fthiotida, he tirelessly continued his religious and spiritual activity, while as a synod he showed particular zeal in enforcing the Charter of the Church of Greece. He also represented the Church of Greece at the ecclesiastical congresses of Lausanne in 1927, Paris in 1928, and Amsterdam in 1948.

In 1938, in the election of the Archbishop of Athens, by supporting the former Metropolitan Chrysanthos of Trebizond, he created a major ecclesiastical problem of annulling the election of the marginally elected Metropolitan of Corinth Damaskinos, who had received one additional vote from the "deposed" bishop of Dryinoupolis. His action was followed by other metropolitans, with the consequence that the law on the election of metropolitans was changed, appointing a smaller commission which was called the "Aristide Synod". The election process was repeated, resulting in the final election of Chrysanthos.

On June 10, 1951, with the completion of 40 years of high priesthood, a great celebration took place in Lamia, which gave the opportunity for warm and sincere expressions of respect and appreciation on the part of the clergy and the people. Ambrose received many high honors, Greek and foreign, (he was decorated by three kings), as well as many distinctions. He died in 1960 and was succeeded on the metropolitan throne by Damascenes Papachristou (born Nikolaos Papachristou), nephew of Archbishop Damascenes.