Christopher (Knitis)

Born in 1872 in Vati, the capital of the autonomous Samos principality, in a family of Haridimos and Fioritsa, nee Foka. He graduated from the Pythagorean gymnasium on Samos, the University of Athens and the Theological Seminary on the island of Halki . On July 19, 1898, he was tonsured a monk with the name Christopher.

He taught at the Pitagorov gymnasium. In 1905, he left for one year to study theology and English at St. Andrews University in Scotland , and then studied at Oxford University, which he graduated in 1909.

He defended his master's thesis, “Sacred ministry and its relation to marriage in the Holy Eastern Orthodox Church,” which was published the next year in the Journal of Theological Studies.

Upon returning to Constantinople, he worked as archivist and editor of the patriarchal magazine Εκκλησιαστική Αλήθεια .

April 23, 1910 was ordained to the priesthood, elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

On December 12 of the same year he was ordained bishop of Stavropol.

October 9, 1918 was transferred by Metropolitan Serre .

As Metropolitan Sersky, he helped accommodate thousands of refugees from Asia Minor .

On February 9, 1924, the Australian and New Zealand Metropolis were formed and Metropolitan Christopher was appointed his first bishop.

Arrived in Australia on July 8, 1924. His ministry in Australia was overshadowed by a conflict with Archimandrite Irenaeus (Kasimatis), who wrote sharp articles against him in the local Greek press.

The conflict created a division among the Greek diaspora in Australia, as a result of which Metropolitan Christopher was recalled to Greece on February 4, 1928.

Metropolitan Christopher was rested appointed titular Metropolitan of Wiesen and spent the rest of his life on the island of Samos , where he died on August 7, 1958.

• HLN Simmons Knetes, Christophoros (1872–1958)