NEW YORK, NY – GNUSA [Photos: GANP/ Dimitrios Panagos]
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America mourns the passing of Metropolitan Dimitrios of Xanthos who fell asleep in the Lord on Thursday, February 19.
Born on February 17, 1938, in Greenville, SC, James George [Koutsogiorgas] Couchell was the son of the late James John Couchell and Virginia Trakas Couchell.
He graduated from Spartanburg High School in 1958, then attended Northwestern University for one year before transferring and graduating from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in 1963.
He continued his studies at Yale Divinity School and then served for 17 years in various positions at the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
In 1971, he became the first editor of the English-language section of the Orthodox Observer, and in 1981 he was appointed Executive Director of the St. Photios National Shrine in St. Augustine, Florida.
In 1983, he was ordained Deacon by then‑Bishop John of Atlanta and presbyter by then‑Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America. In 1984, he was also appointed Executive Director of the newly established Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC).
On May 31, 1998, he was consecrated titular Bishop of Xanthos at the Cathedral of St. George in Philadelphia by Archbishop Spyridon of America. He then assumed the duties of Director of the Department of Inter-Orthodox and Ecumenical Affairs and Secretary of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA).
After retiring from active service in 2007, he continued to offer his ministry as Emeritus Director of the St. Photios National Shrine. In 2015, he founded the “Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos Student Care Endowment,” and in 2023 he was elevated to active Metropolitan when the Diocese of Xanthos was raised to a Metropolis in his person.
His Eminence had been a resident of St. Augustine for the past 40+ years.
Metropolitan Dimitrios is survived by his son, David Mesfin, whom he adopted in 1985 while visiting an orphanage in Ethiopia, and Mesfin’s wife Maki; and grandchildren, Ezra and Amra residing in Long Beach, CA, a sister, Fanya Couchell Paouris of Greenville SC, and brother, Jon Couchell and his wife, Kiki, of Spartanburg SC, and many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
Upon learning of the passing of Metropolitan Dimitrios, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America officiated a Trisagion service for the repose of his soul at the Archdiocesan Chapel of St. Paul and stated, “Our beloved Metropolitan Dimitrios served our Church in America with unwavering love, deep devotion, and heartfelt zeal. He guided our Church forward—strengthening our youth, advancing our missions, and fostering ecumenical outreach. May his memory be eternal, and may we faithfully continue along the path he so thoughtfully set before us”.
Visitation and Trisagion prayer service will be on Wednesday, February 25 from 5-8pm at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in St. Augustine FL. The funeral will be on Thursday, February 26 at 10:30am, officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, and interment to follow at OCMC [220 Mason Manatee Way, St. Augustine, FL. 32086].
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine, 41 St. George Street, St. Augustine, FL. 32084 or to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 7 Waldo Street, St. Augustine, Fl. 32084.
