This post was originally published on this site

By Deacon Marek Simon, Executive Director of OCF

It is with a heavy heart and a spirit of profound gratitude that we share the falling asleep in the Lord of Metropolitan Dimitrios (Couchell) of Xanthos, who reposed on February 19, 2026. While his impact reached every corner of the Orthodox Church, for those of us at the Orthodox Christian Fellowship, he was more than a hierarch—he was our founder and the visionary who first saw the essential need for an organized Orthodox presence on the university campus.

A Vision for the Campus

Long before he was elevated to the episcopacy, then-layman James Couchell recognized a critical gap in the life of our Church: the need to support young people during their formative college years. In 1964, he was tasked with initiating a campus ministry program for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. This resulted in the establishment of the Campus Commission in 1965, and the publication of Concern magazine, a quarterly publication for Orthodox Christian college students. During this foundational period, Metropolitan Dimitrios:

  • Visited over 500 campuses across the country.
  • Established contact with several thousand Orthodox students and faculty.
  • Founded more than 100 Orthodox Christian Fellowships (OCFs).

A Global Legacy of Leadership

The Metropolitan’s life was defined by pioneering service. His leadership extended far beyond North America, connecting our students to the global Orthodox world:

  • International Youth Leadership: On behalf of the OCFs, he served on the Executive Committee of Syndesmos (the World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth) from 1971 to 1977 and was elected its President in 1977. His leadership helped pave the way for the global network that continues to host the Suprasl World Gathering of Orthodox Youth today.
  • Communications: He served as the first English Editor of the Orthodox Observer.
  • National Shrine: He was the Executive Director of the St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine in St. Augustine, FL.
  • Global Missions: He served as the Founding Director of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), expanding mission efforts around the globe.

A Personal Reflection

I had the privilege of meeting Metropolitan Dimitrios a few years ago. We spoke at length about the very mission he began decades ago. I remember how his eyes lit up when we discussed the current state of campus ministry. He was adamant that our students need more than just a place to meet; they need to be nurtured and mentored in the faith during this pivotal time in their lives.

As I lead OCF today, his words remain a guiding light. He understood that the future of the Church depends on how we care for our students today. We are the fruit of the seeds he planted in 1964, and as we continue to grow the OCF movement, we do so inspired by his pioneering spirit and with deep gratitude for the path he forged for us all.

May his memory be eternal!

The post Memory Eternal: Honoring Our Founder, Metropolitan Dimitrios of Xanthos appeared first on Orthodox Christian Fellowship – OCF.