Ignatios Lappas (1 January 1946 – 26 June 2018) was a Greek Orthodox metropolitan bishop who served as the head of the Metropolis of Larissa and Tyrnavos in the region of Thessaly. He was installed on 25 May 1994 and remained in office until his death in June 2018, a tenure that spanned more than two decades.
Role and responsibilities
As a metropolitan within the Church of Greece, Lappas fulfilled the typical duties associated with the office: pastoral care of the faithful, oversight of diocesan clergy and parishes, administration of diocesan institutions, and leading liturgical life in the metropolis. Metropolitans often represent the church in civic matters, guide theological education at the local level, and participate in national synodal deliberations.
The Metropolis of Larissa and Tyrnavos
The Metropolis covers a region centered on Larissa, an important urban and agricultural centre in central Greece. Historically, such metropolises combine religious, cultural and social functions, supporting parish life, charitable activities and the preservation of ecclesiastical heritage in their areas.
Tenure and public life
During his episcopate, Lappas presided over parish affairs and diocesan programs characteristic of Greek Orthodox leadership: ordinations, consecrations, pastoral visits, and engagement with local communities. His extended period in office contributed to continuity in diocesan administration and pastoral practice in the metropolis.
- Born: 1 January 1946
- Office: Metropolitan of Larissa and Tyrnavos (from 25 May 1994)
- Died: 26 June 2018 (aged 72)
- Cause reported: heart failure
Lappas died on 26 June 2018 in Miami, Florida, at the age of 72. His passing was noted by the Church of Greece and by communities in his metropolis, where clergy and laity remembered his years of service and the institutional continuity he maintained.
Scholarly and popular accounts of metropolitans typically treat their influence in both ecclesial and social spheres; Lappas's long incumbency illustrates the role a senior bishop plays in shaping local church life over decades.