Biography of His Eminence, the Most Reverend Archbishop Stephen (Enea)

His Eminence, Archbishop Stephen, a native of Utica, NY, is the first Bishop of Utica, the seventh ruling Bishop of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church in the Americas and Canada, and the 78th Archbishop and Primate (First Hierarch) of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church.

Born and raised in Utica, New York, he was tonsured a monk and ordained a deacon on March 8, 1997. On the following day, March 9, 1997, he was ordained a priest for the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church, with the title of Archimandrite, by His Beatitude, Archbishop Timotheos (Athanassiou) of the Genuine Orthodox Church of Hellas and the Diaspora in the Church of St. John the Russian, Athens (Melissia), Greece. He was unanimously elected bishop of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada by an Extraordinary Diocesan Assembly convened in Philadelphia, PA on August 23-24, 2003.

On September 18, 2004, Archimandrite Stephen was canonically elected bishop for the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Genuine Orthodox Church of Hellas and the Diaspora and was consecrated on Sunday, September 19, 2004 in the Church of the Three Holy Hierarchs in Athens, Greece by His Beatitude, Archbishop Timotheos; His Eminence, Metropolitan Germanos; and Their Graces, Bishops Pavlos and Leonides. He was given the title of Bishop of Utica and Metropolitan of the Americas and Canada of the Italo-Greeks and was appointed locum tenens of the Archiepiscopal See of Siracusa and All Sicily, replacing Archbishop Timotheos, who held the position since March 1997.

On August 26-28, 2005, Metropolitan Stephen was elected Archbishop and Primate of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church by an Extraordinary All-Church Council convened at the Cathedral of the Theotokos of Great Grace in Utica, New York. His Eminence’s election was confirmed by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Genuine Orthodox Church of Hellas and the Diaspora by Protocol #012006-2 on February 7, 2006.

His Eminence shepherds a Church which has been widowed of a bishop since the death of its last bishop in 1982. He works vigorously in his efforts to rebuild approximately fourteen communities here in the United States as well as several in Sicily and Southern Italy. He is committed to making the Italo-Greek Church a true servant Church, actively witnessing and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ in an ever-increasing secular world.

His Eminence is an outspoken advocate of administrative unity among the various Orthodox jurisdictions in the United States as well as in Sicily and Italy. His vision is for a single, unified Orthodox Church of America as well as a unified, strong, and vibrant national Orthodox Church of Sicily and Italy. He is also dedicated to fostering a better understanding of the Eastern Church by Western Christians, especially among Roman Catholics within the framework and parameters of a faithful witness to Orthodox Christian Tradition and ecclesiology, primarily in the area of Orthodox-Catholic relations on the local grassroots level.

Early Life

Stephen J. Enea was born in Utica, NY on September 7, 1959, the oldest son of Philip and Gloria Enea. He has one brother, Kenneth, who lives with his family in Winnetka, CA. He was baptized in St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Roman Catholic Church, Utica, NY, where he received his First Holy Communion. He received the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Utica, NY. He was received into the Orthodox Church by Confession, Chrismation, Profession of Faith and the reception of the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist on October 16, 1977, by His Beatitude, Archbishop Gennadios of the Italo-Greek Orthodox Church.

He attended Miller Street Grammar School and Our Lady of Lourdes School in Utica, NY. Later, he attended Notre Dame High School and Thomas R. Proctor High School, where he graduated in his Junior year. He attended St. Vladimir’s Seminary in Crestwood, NY for one year, after which he went to work for the late Archbishop Peter (L’Huillier) of the Diocese of NY/NJ of the Orthodox Church in America as his personal assistant and driver, a position he held from 1985 to 1989. He also served as the Archbishop’s subdeacon during the same period. He also worked part-time for the Very Rev. Protopresbyter Alexander Warnecke, then Chancellor of the OCA Diocese of NY/NJ.

Education

• Miller Street Grammar School, Utica, NY
• Our Lady of Lourdes School, Utica, NY
• Notre Dame High School, Utica, NY
• Thomas, R. Proctor High School, Utica, NY
• Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, NY
• Joseph’s College, Standish, ME (On Leave)

Tonsures/Ordinations

• Reader, June 4, 1978, by His Beatitude, Archbishop Gennadios
• Subdeacon, January 19, 1981, by His Beatitude, Archbishop Gennadios
• Monastic Tonsure (Rasaphor), March 8, 1997, by His Beatitude, Archbishop Timotheos (Athanasiou)
• Deacon, March 8, 1997, by His Beatitude, Archbishop Timotheos (Athanasiou)
• Priest, March 9, 1997, by His Beatitude, Archbishop Timotheos (Athanasiou)
• Archimandrite, March 9, 1997, by His Beatitude, Archbishop Timotheos
• Monastic Tonsure (Stavrophore), September 18, 2004, by His Beatitude, Archbishop Timotheos (Athanasiou)
• Episcopal Consecration, September 19, 2004, by His Beatitude, Archbishop Timotheos and members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Genuine Orthodox Church of Hellas and the Diaspora
• Elevation to Archbishop, February 7, 2006

Ministry

• Personal Assistant and Subdeacon to His Eminence, Archbishop Peter L’Hullier (deceased) of the Diocese of NY/NJ (OCA), Bronxville, NY (1985-1989)
• Administrator, Italo-Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas and Canada, (1982-2004)
• Bishop of Utica (September 19, 2004 to present)
• Metropolitan of the Americas and Canada of the Italo-Greeks (September 19, 2004 to present)
• Patron and Prelate of the Sovereign Military Order of Christ the King (September 19, 2004 – Present)
• Locum Tenens of the Archiepiscopal See of Siracusa and Ortigia, and of All Sicily, Calabria and Magna Graecia (September 19, 2004 - February 7, 2006)
• Archbishop of Siracusa and Ortigia, and of All Sicily, Calabria and Magna Graecia (February 7, 2006 to present)
• Proistamenos, Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos “Our Lady of Grace”, Utica, NY (March 9, 1997 - present)
• Chaplain, Oneida County Sheriff’s Department/Corrections Division (1999 – 2001)
• Chaplain and Assistant Chief – Oneida City Fire Department (2002 – 2003)
• Chaplain, Sons of Italy Lodge, Utica, NY (1997-2006) (March 2010 – 2012)
• Chaplain, Italian Heritage Club, Utica, NY (2012-2014)
• Chaplain & Assistant Chief, Deerfield Volunteer Fire Dept, Deerfield, NY (2002 - 2013)
• Chaplain, Kunkel Ambulance Service, Utica, NY (2004 - 2007)
• Chaplain, Red Knights Motorcycle Club, Utica, NY (2003 - 2012)
• Chaplain, New York State Police - Troop D/Zone 1, Marcy, NY (September 2009 - 2013)

Professional Services

• Emergency Medical Technician – Kunkel Ambulance Service, Utica, NY
• Emergency Medical Technician – Kuyahoora Volunteer Ambulance Service, Poland, NY
• Emergency Medical Technician - Deerfield Volunteer Fire Department - Deerfield, NY

Professional Affiliations

• Former Member - New York State Association of Fire Chaplains
• Former Member - NYS Association of Fire Chiefs
• Former Member - Firemen’s Association of New York (FASNY)
• Associate Member - International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC)
• Orthodox Peace Fellowship

Awards and Recognitions

• International Conference of Police Chaplains (1998)
• Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (1998)
• International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (2001)
• New York City Police Department – Police Academy (Manhattan South In-Tac Training Program (2002)
• New York State Commission of Correction (Suicide Prevention) (2002)
• New York State Commission of Correction (Basic Training OCSD) (2002)
• United States Search and Rescue Task Force (2002)
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (2002)
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (2002)
• Oneida County Sheriff’s Department – S.E.R.T Academy #6 (2000)
• 2010 Community Builder Award given by Mohawk Valley Community Action - May 20, 2011