Irineos Galanakis
Irineos Galanakis (Greek Ειρηναίος Γαλανάκης, also Irenäos or Irenaios circumscribed, whose real name is Mikhail Galanakis, born November 10, 1911 at the village Neohori in Apokoronas, † April 30, 2013 ) was from 1957 to 1971 and again from 1982 to 2005 bishop or Metropolitan of the Diocese of Kissamos in Crete and Selino and 1971-1980 Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Germany. He was all his life because of his social engagement as the most popular church leaders Crete.
During his tenure, the Orthodox Church in Germany was recognized. In addition, several Orthodox churches were built in Germany.
On him the foundation of the ANEK Lines goes back, which gained considerable importance for the economy, especially the tourism in Crete.
In 1978 he founded the company ET.AN.AP. (Greek Εταιρεία Αναπτύξεως Αποκορώνου ), which sells the famous mineral water in Crete Samaria. With the establishment of this company, he wanted to strengthen the economic structure of his home town and was successful.
He also founded the Orthodox Academy of Crete in the west.
Career
Irineos studied at the seminary in Crete and the Faculty of Theology of the University of Athens. After completing his studies, he underwent further studies in theology and sociology at the French universities of Lille and Paris. He was from 1938 to 1945 worked as a professor of theology at schools in the prefecture of Chania. In 1946 he became a deacon and later ordained to the priesthood and the title of Archimandrite it was awarded to him. He held the position of Vice- Director of the Ecclesiastical Faculty of Crete. In December 1957, the Synod of the Cretan Church elected him Bishop of Kissamos and Selino. In September 1962, when the Cretan bishoprics were elevated to archdioceses ( Metropolitanates ), he became Metropolitan. In December 1971, he was elected by the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Germany. Under his leadership, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Germany in 1974 officially recognized as a public body and therefore the Orthodox Church as a third church, the Metropolitan center with the Agia Trias ( Holy Trinity ) Metropolitan Cathedral in Bonn and many other Orthodox churches in larger German cities built.
Re-election as Metropolitan in 1981
On January 26, 1981 Irineos Galanakis was re-elected Metropolitan of Kissamos and Selino. However, the Synod of the Church of Crete had just chosen a different priest bishop. However, thousands of devotees prevented his enthronement, boarded up the doors of the Episcopal Church and called for the election of Irineos. The Synod then joined together again and chose him under pressure from the base ( as a precaution surrounded by thousands of devotees ) as Metropolitan.
He held that post for a further 24 years, until the 94th year, he tendered his resignation in August 2005 for health reasons. Irineos, which is very popular in Crete and is revered as a saint, came to his death continue on festive occasions in public.
He was buried on 2 May 2013 Kissamos.
Corporate, social and economic commitment
Foundation of ANEK Lines
After the December 8, 1966 due to non- observance of safety in the sinking of the Greek ferry Heraklion on the journey from Crete to Piraeus 241 people died, it came in the wake of Crete to riots and demonstrations against the Greek Government and the shipping company Typaldos.
1967 suggested Archbishop Irineos to starting your own Cretan ferry company to create a safe and reliable means of transportation for residents and visitors to the island. Due to his initiative saw the founding of the People's Aktiengesellschaft ANEK based in Chania. 5,000 Cretans acquired 356,000 people shares with a par value of 25 euros. Until his death was Irineos Chairman of ANEK Lines as well as their subsidiary ANEN.
Establishment of the Orthodox Academy
Metropolitan Irineos is the founder of the Orthodox Academy of Crete, an ecumenical meeting and conference center, which was established in 1971 Gonias Monastery and was considered a place of spiritual resistance during the time of the Greek military dictatorship.
Connected to the academy has long been a model farm, was promoted to the modern scientific methods, the development of agriculture, such as the finishing of sheep through artificial insemination.
Other social activities
Irineos became involved, among other things, for the improvement of educational opportunities for women, particularly in rural areas and promoted the creation of women's associations.
He was also a lifetime president of the " National Research and Academic Foundation Eleftherios Venizelos ", which was founded in 2000 on his initiative. Irineos has written numerous books.