Courtesy of John Clisham Former Ithaca College professor Archimandrite Epiphanios Perialas was recently enthroned first metropolitan of Spain and Portugal for the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Archimandrite Epiphanios Perialas used to be known simply as “Gus.” When he worked at Ithaca College as a professor and vice president of student and campus affairs, he wore black jeans and a sweatshirt. In his new position of authority in the Eastern Orthodox Church, Epiphanios will have to wear a black cassock and a stovepipe hat with a black veil in the back.

Epiphanios, who took early retirement in 1996, is now in Madrid, where he will be the first metropolitan of Spain and Portugal for the Eastern Orthodox Church. He was enthroned to this position (which is the equivalent of Cardinal in the Catholic Church) on June 7. During his first month on the job, he will be marrying the niece of the king and queen of Spain to the son of wealthy ship owners.

“It’s a different lifestyle for me,” Epiphanios said. “It’s not facing students who cry that I give them too much work.”

Epiphanios was a professor of speech and communication for 30 years at Ithaca College and also served as vice president of student and campus affairs for a time. At the same time he was an ordained minister. On the weekends he changed into his collar and vestments, traveling as far as Detroit to preach.

Harold Emery, a history professor at Ithaca College and a longtime friend of Epiphanios, said he didn’t want to believe that this time his friend was going all the way to Spain. He also struggled with calling his friend by the name the church has given him.

“I call him Gus,” Emery said. “My mother called him ‘Gus Gus.’ We’re not about to change. I guess I should say ‘your grace’ or something, but to hell with it. I mean, he’s just one of the guys.”

Epiphanio’s new position calls for him to establish a presence in Spain and Portugal for the Eastern Orthodox Church. Epiphanios said that there are many Eastern Orthodox Christians there who need a church of their own. There are approximately 300,000 Ukrainian immigrants in Portugal, and most of them are Orthodox, Epiphanios said.

Epiphanios has already set up an advisory board to raise funds to build churches. He said that he intends to try to attract priests from Slavic countries and Greece to serve.

Establishing the Eastern Orthodox Church abroad is something Epiphanios has had experience with before. Epiphanios spent three and a half months in Hong Kong in 1996 trying to persuade the government to recognize the church there. Epiphanios said he adapts to new countries by establishing relationships with the people.

“You get to know them, and they have to get to know that you love them,” Epiphanios said. “It’s the same with teaching. The students have to know that you’re there for them and that you care for them.”

As a professor at Ithaca College, Epiphanios said he kept his house and office open to students. Epiphanios said what he misses most about teaching is those student visits. He said he is grateful that many of his students still remain in contact with him. In 1997, the Department of Speech Communication established the Perialas Prize, a $500 scholarship contest given to three students each year, in his honor.

Epiphanios said students used to call him mean names because he was “so nice outside of the classroom, and so mean inside.”

The former professor, who had a reputation for being tough, has some learning to do in Spain.

“I guess I have to become a student myself when I come back now, and take classes in Spanish,” Epiphanios said, chuckling.