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[[Image:Athenagoras Peckstadt.jpg|right|frame|Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium]]
His Eminence, Metropolitan '''Athenagoras (Peckstadt) of Belgium''' is a hierarch of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]]. Since 2013 he has served as Metropolitan of Belgiumand Exarch of the Netherlands and Luxemburg.
Yves Peckstadt was born on [[March 24]], 1962, in Ghent, Belgium, the son of [[Archpriest]] Ignace Peckstadt (who served there in Ghent) and Marie-Thérèse Janssens. After some years of law school at the University of Ghent, he began study at the University of Thessaloniki in Greece, having received a scholarship granted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He successfully graduated with a Master's degree in Theology. He continued his studies at the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey (University of Geneva), graduating with a thesis entitled ''History of Orthodox presence in Benelux and its importance to the ecumenical movement''.
On the [[May 13]], 2003, he was unanimously elected by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople as [[auxiliary bishop]] to the Metropolitan of Belgium with the ancient title of ''Bishop of Sinope'', and was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] on Sunday, [[June 22]], 2003, in the Orthodox [[cathedral]] in Brussels. In addition to his episcopal functions, Bp. Athenagoras continued to carry on most of his former duties.
On [[Novenber 27]], 2013, the Holy Synod elected Bishop Athenagoras as Metropolitan of Belgium and Exarch of the Netherlands and Luxemburg, following the retirement of his predecessor Metropolitan Panteleimon.<ref>http://www.amen.gr/article16049</ref>Since his election as metropolitan of Belgium, he represents all orthodox christians towards the Belgian and Luxemburg authorities. He is the president of the Orthodox Bishops Conference of the Benelux and co-chair of the International Commission of the Dialogue between the Anglican Communion and the Orthodox Church. He was several times a member of the permanent Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
title=Bishop of Sinope|
years=2003-2013|
after=[[Silouan (Fotineas) of Sinope|Silouan (Fotineas)]]|}}
{{succession|
before=[[Panteleimon (Kontogiannis) of Belgium|Panteleimon (Kontogiannis)]]|
title=Metropolitan of Belgium|
years=2013-present|
after=—}}{{end box-}}
[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:21st-century bishops]]