--- title: HR 35. Sevastianos, Metropolitan; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr35 cite_as: HR 35, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr35 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr35.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr35/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69436 date: 2025-01-16 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr34.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr36.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr35.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 35 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-01-16 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Mike Cheokas - Chuck Efstration text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR35/2025 upstream_id: 1926010 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - ceremonial resolution - Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta - religious leadership recognition --- # HR 35. Sevastianos, Metropolitan; commend ## Text House Resolution 35 By: Representatives Cheokas of the 151st and Efstration of the 104th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Metropolitan Sevastianos; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Metropolitan Sevastianos will be elevated to the Holy Seat of Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta on January 25 to 26, 2025, at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation in Atlanta, Georgia, succeeding the retired Metropolitan Alexios as the second Metropolitan of Atlanta; and WHEREAS, this historic event in Apostolic succession will be attended by Orthodox faithful from the Metropolis' eight states and civic leaders from across the United States; and WHEREAS, Metropolitan Sevastianos was unanimously recommended by the Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and was elected by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople; and WHEREAS, born in Cyprus as the eldest of three children, Metropolitan Sevastianos is an honorable servant leader who has dedicated his life to serving the Lord and the faithful; and WHEREAS, he was ordained as a Deacon on January 17, 1974, and as a Priest on March 4, 1979, serving in parishes across Athens, Nottingham, Birmingham, Huntsville, Limassol, Marietta, and Tarpon Springs, where he notably led the centennial celebration of St. Nicholas Cathedral; and WHEREAS, in 2006, Metropolitan Sevastianos was appointed Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod by Archbishop Demetrios of America, a position he held until his return to the Metropolis of Atlanta in 2018 to assist Metropolitan Alexios; and WHEREAS, his exemplary ministrations to the church further include service as President of the Clergy Syndesmos of the Metropolis of Atlanta and Vice President of the Archdiocesan Presbyters Council; and WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper to recognize the outstanding accomplishments and dynamic Christian ministry of this devout and pious man during this special time. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize and commend Metropolitan Sevastianos upon the grand occasion of his elevation to the Holy Seat of Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta and extend best wishes for future health and happiness. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Metropolitan Sevastianos. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution formally commends Metropolitan Sevastianos on his elevation to lead the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta, a ceremonial honor with no effect on state law. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives, not a law that changes any rules or spends any money. It recognizes Metropolitan Sevastianos, who is being elevated to the Holy Seat of Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta in a ceremony on January 25 to 26, 2025 in Atlanta, succeeding retired Metropolitan Alexios. The resolution recounts his life and religious career, including his ordination, decades of parish service, and his role as Chief Secretary of the Holy Eparchial Synod. The House resolves to commend him and wish him well, and directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for him. It does not create any new legal requirement or public program. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Metropolitan Sevastianos on his elevation to lead the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta. - States the House's best wishes for his future health and happiness, with no legal or regulatory effect. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to him. ### Who it affects This resolution directly names and honors Metropolitan Sevastianos and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta. It has no regulatory or financial effect on other Georgians, agencies, or businesses. ### Why it matters The resolution carries symbolic weight, publicly recognizing a religious leader's career and a significant event for Georgia's Greek Orthodox community, but it does not change any law, create funding, or impose any obligation on anyone. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses recount Metropolitan Sevastianos's biography, ordination dates, parish assignments, and church leadership roles. - The resolving clause commends him on his elevation to Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta and wishes him well. - A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to him. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-01-16) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-01-16) - Sponsors: Mike Cheokas, Chuck Efstration - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69436 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr35.md?full=1