Gerasimos (Papadopoulos)

Bishop Gerasimos (Papadopoulos) of Abydos was a titular bishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate serving in the United States, a professor and spiritual father at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. He is venerated by the faithful without synodal canonization.

He was born on 10 October 1910, with the name Elias, at Bouzi (today Kyllini) in the province of Corinth, the fourth of ten children. He left school at thirteen and worked at several trades. In 1928 he became a novice at the monastery of Mega Spelaion and then at the Skete of Saint Anna on Mount Athos, where, under the monk Chrysostomos, he was tonsured with the name Gerasimos. In 1934 he went to the Theological Seminary of Corinth; he was ordained deacon in 1935 and priest in 1941. During the war he directed the orphanage of Vouliagmeni, then served as chancellor of the Metropolis of Corinth and, from 1947, as priest of the Greek church in Munich.

In 1952 he came to the United States as professor of New Testament at Holy Cross. The students nicknamed him "Fr. GULF", for Gerasimos, Understanding, Love, Faith. On 6 April 1962 the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected him titular bishop of Abydos; he oversaw the Boston district and from 1967 the Pittsburgh district, until his retirement in 1977. He then returned to Holy Cross as a professor and resident spiritual father, living simply in a student dormitory. He reposed on 12 June 1995.