Archiepiskopos Ioppis Damaskinos Gaganiaras

His Eminence Archbishop Damaskinos of Joppa (born Anastasios Gaganiaras) was born in Vlasti, Kozani in 1952. He arrived in Jerusalem in 1967 and became a monk in 1968. In 1970, he was ordained as a Deacon, serving in Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Amman. He was ordained as a Priest in 1977 and received the title of Archimandrite in 1980. In 1980, he obtained a degree in English Philology from the Catholic University of Bethlehem. In 1984, he earned a Theology degree from the School of Theology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. In 1985, after attending the postgraduate program in Byzantine history at the same university, he received his Master's degree with honors, having completed and published a study in Nea Sion titled "The Promotion of the Diocese of Aelia to a Patriarchate" in Jerusalem in 1985. In 1988, he was awarded a Doctorate in Theology from the same university, having completed and published a doctoral dissertation titled "Conflicts between Greeks and Armenians over the Holy Places." He also authored a tribute to his professor at Aristotle University, Damianos Doikos, with a work titled "The Plans of Panslavists in Palestine," published in volume 5 {B} of the Scientific Yearbook of the School of Theology, New Series, Thessaloniki, 1995, pages 25-34. He served as a Candelabrum Bearer at the Holy Sepulchre, a Sacristan in Bethlehem, an Abbot at various monasteries, President of the Patriarchate's rental department, and for many years as a Professor at the Patriarchal School of Holy Zion, teaching English, Christian Ethics, and other related subjects. He is proficient in English, Arabic, and Hebrew. In 1984, he personally funded the renovation of the Holy Monastery of the Archangels in Joppa, and later in 1994, he completely rebuilt the Church of the Holy Archangels and the monastery there, which had been entirely destroyed by fire in 1963. In 2001, he acquired the building of the Joppa School from the Israeli Army, which had used it as barracks, renovated it, and put it into operation for the educational needs of the youth of Joppa. In 1996, he was appointed a member of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. In October 1998, he was elected and on 31-10-1998, he was ordained Bishop of Joppa. In 2000, he was promoted to Archbishop of Joppa and appointed President of the Ecclesiastical Court in Joppa, adjudicating family law matters. He is a graduate of the Law School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, having been sworn in 2002. In 2001, he was appointed Exarch of the Holy Sepulchre in Greece and in 2002 Exarch in America, resigning in 2006. In 2005, he personally funded the construction of the Holy Monastery of Saint Panteleimon in his hometown, Vlasti. On June 27, 2008, his doctoral dissertation was evaluated and approved by the Law School of the University of Thessaloniki with honors, prepared by His Eminence as a sign of duty and love towards the Church of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.