His Eminence Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol

His Eminence Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol was born in Limassol on 8 February 1959. In 1973 he entered the Holy Metropolis of Paphos, and in 1976, after graduating from high school in Paphos, he was ordained deacon by the then Metropolitan of Paphos and later Archbishop of Cyprus, Chrysostomos I. He subsequently studied at the Theological School of the University of Thessaloniki. In 1980, upon completing his studies, he entered Mount Athos and was enrolled among the ascetics there, specifically in Nea Skete.

In 1982 he was tonsured a Great Schema monk, and in the same year he was ordained presbyter; in 1983 he was appointed confessor.

In 1987 he settled at the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi, where he was elected as one of the administrators of the monastery and subsequently representative to the Holy Community of Mount Athos. For the period 1991–1992 he was elected Protos (chief administrator) of Mount Athos.

In 1992, following an invitation of Archbishop Chrysostomos and with the blessing of the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi, he returned to Cyprus and temporarily formed a brotherhood at the Monastery of Iereon in Paphos. On 4 November 1993 he was elected Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Machairas.

On 11 February 1999, by vote of the clergy and lay, he was elected Metropolitan of Limassol, was consecrated bishop on 14 February 1999 and was enthroned on the same day.
Ονομαστική εορτή: 18 Ιανουαρίου.