HIS EXCELLENCY
METROPOLITAN NICHOLAS OF AMISSOS

AMERICAN CARPATHO-RUSSIAN ORTHODOX DIOCESE

BIOGRAPHY :

His Excellency Metropolitan Nicholas of Amissos, (in the world Nikolaj Smisko) was born in New Jersey on February 23, 1936. He studied theology at Christ the Saviour Institute in Johnstown and attended in 1952 lessons at the Theological Institute of Halki, serving at the maintime the Slavs living in Galata, Constantinople. He was ordained to the diaconate and the priesthood in 1959 and served the Parish of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Windber. In 1963 he became the director of the Christ the Saviour Institute in Johnstown and was appointed dean of the Christ Saviours Cathedral in the same city.

He was elected by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as the auxiliary bishop of Metropolitan John of Nyssa with the high title of “Bishop of Amissos”. His consecration took place on March 13, 1983 in St. Mary's Church, Allentown, PA. Consecrator was the late Archbishop Iakovos of America assited by Metropolitan Andrew of Evkarpia (Ukranian) and the Bishops John of Nyssa and Philotheos of Meloa.

After the death of Bishop John of Nyssa, on September 30, 1984, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarch elected His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Amissos as ruling Bishop of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese. He was then enthroned on April 19 by Archbishop Iakovos of America at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Johnstown. He was elevated to the rank of titular Metropolitan of Amissos by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on November 24, 1997.

The late Metropolitan Nicholas of Amissos, spiritual leader of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A. under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, reposed in the Lord on Sunday March 13, 2011 after waging a courageous battle with cancer.

May Almighty God rest His Newly Departed Servant, Our God-Loving Metropolitan Nicholas in the Heavenly Mansions, where there is neither sickness, sorrow or pain, but Life Everlasting!

May His Memory Be Eternal!