Installed 1960 Consecration October 4, 1953 Predecessor Vladimir Tikhonicky Ordination February 3, 1930 | Successor George Wagner Term ended 1981 Name George Tarassov | |
Died March 22, 1981, Paris, France | ||
George of Syracuse (born Georgy Vasilyevich Tarassov, Russian: Георгий Васильевич Тарасов April 14, 1893 in Voronezh, Russia – March 22, 1981 in Paris, France) was an Eastern Orthodox archbishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate who led the Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe from 1960 to 1981.
A chemical engineer by training, Tarassov settled in Belgium in 1919. He was ordained deacon in 1928 by Metropolitan Eulogius (Georgiyevsky) of Paris, and priest in 1930. He served as rector of various parishes in Belgium, including Brussels from 1940. In 1953 he was consecrated as auxiliary bishop under Metropolitan. Vladimir (Tikhonicky), with responsibility for parishes in Benelux and Germany. Archbishop George was elected to lead the exarchate after the death of Vladimir in 1959.