Memory Eternal

With both joy in the Resurrection and sadness for our loss, we celebrated the funeral and burial today of the first Executive Director of the Mission Center and a profound champion for growing an Orthodox presence around the world.  

His Eminence Metropolitan Dimitrios (Couchell) of Xanthos, who passed away on February 19, 2026, was laid to rest on the grounds of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center. He is survived by his son Nikita David Mesfin –– whom he adopted in 1985 while visiting an orphanage in Ethiopia –– David’s wife Maki, and their children Ezra and Emra. His Eminence is also survived by his brother Archon John Couchell and his wife Kiki, his sister Fanya Couchell Paouris, and numerous extended family members. 

His many gifts to the Church will survive him well into the future and include founding the Orthodox Christian Fellowship, as well as being the founding editor of the Orthodox Observer and founding Executive Director of St. Photios National Shrine. However, for the staff at the Mission Center, we know him most for being our first Executive Director, a 13-year position that will forever weave him through the fabric of our history.  

1n 1985, after two decades operating as a volunteer organization, the Greek Orthodox Clergy Laity Congress voted to establish the Mission Center under the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. Archbishop Iakovos of blessed memory appointed His Eminence Metropolitan Dimitrios of Xanthos (a priest at that time) as Executive Director.  

He immediately had a zealous 25-member Board of Directors, who elected Fr. Alexander Veronis as the first president to work alongside him. Fr. Luke Veronis recently said, “My father [Fr. Alexander] was so happy to work with Metropolitan Dimitrios as they established the Archdiocesan Mission Center, the precursor to OCMC. Later, Presbytera Faith and I deeply appreciated his support and love when he sent us out to Albania to serve as missionaries. I will always be deeply appreciative of the work he did for OCMC.”  

During his tenure, Metropolitan Dimitrios helped deploy long-term missionaries to countries where Orthodoxy, and sometimes Christianity, did not exist, as well as short-term teams made-up of engineers, teachers, physicians, and construction workers. Dan Christopulos, whose family was first to serve in Kenya said, “I am not sure we could have deployed in 1985 without the efforts and support of Metropolitan Dimitrios. He was our lifeline and constant advocate while we were in Africa and remained so after we returned.”  

Metropolitan Dimitrios also established pivotal initiatives in the US, such as Support A Mission Priest, which subsidizes the salaries of indigenous Orthodox priests from under-developed countries, and the Agape Canister Program, which evolved into today’s Grants Program, funding projects to help create local, sustainable structure for Orthodox communities around the world.   

With the growing need to expand the Mission Center to all Orthodoxy in America, in 1994 Metropolitan Dimitrios helped lead the work to become the official pan-Orthodox mission agency, now under the Assembly of Canonical Bishops of the USA. 1n 1998, having traveled extensively in service of building ecclesiastical communities around the world, Metropolitan Dimitrios concluded 13 years of exceptional, dedicated leadership to the Mission Center.  

Fr. Martin Ritsi, who succeeded Metropolitan Dimitrios as Executive Director of the Mission Center, reflected: “I am inspired by how with gentleness and humility he accomplished so much, and am thankful for the support, guidance, and the uplifting witty humor he was always ready to provide. From monthly calls to check on our family in Africa, to insightful counsel as he passed on leadership of the Mission Center, he was treasured, and his constant presence will be dearly missed.”  

His Eminence was a regular presence at the Mission Center, always sharing a smile and his joyous embrace of life. We are so grateful for him.  

We pray that his memory be eternal.