Apostolic Vicariate of

Thessaloniki

Greece

Continent: East Europe

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Apostolic Vicariate

Name: Thessaloniki / Thessalonica (English) / Θεσσαλονίκη (Ελληνικά) / Salonicco (Italiano) / Thessalonicen(sis) (Latin)

Immediately subject to the Holy See

Neighbouring Dioceses: Corfu–Zakynthos–Kefalonia (↙), Southern Albania (←), Skopje (↖), Sofia–Plovdiv (↗), Istanbul (→), Chios (↘), Athens (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for the Eastern Churches

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Paul of Tarsus (January 25)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: May 4

Liturgical Calendar (Universal) 📅

History

1926.03.18: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Salonica / Σαλονίκη (from Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinopole)
1992: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Thessaloniki / Thessalonica (English) / Θεσσαλονίκη (Ελληνικά) / Salonicco (Italiano) / Thessalonicen(sis) (Latin)

Contact Info

Address: Kolokotroni 19, 56430 Stavroupolis-Thessaloniki, Greece

Phone: (2310)654-256

Present Prelates

Vicar Apostolic:

vacant

Apostolic Administrator (2026.10.31 – ...):

Archbishop Georgios Altouvas (53)

Bishop of Syros (Greece)

Bishop of Santorini (Greece)

Apostolic Administrator of Corfu–Zakynthos–Kefalonia (Greece)

Apostolic Administrator of Crete (Greece)

Archbishop ad personam

Ordinaries

Vicars Apostolic of Salonica (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Georgios Altouvas (53)
(Apostolic Administrator 2026.10.31 – ...)

Archbishop Georgios Altouvas (53)
(Apostolic Administrator 2020.09.14 – 2026.08.28)

Archbishop Yannis Spiteris, O.F.M. Cap. (86)
(Apostolic Administrator 2003.03.22 – 2020.09.14)

Archbishop Antónios Varthalítis, A.A.
(Apostolic Administrator 1992.07.09 – 2003.03.22)

Fr. Dimítrios Roussos, S.J.
(Apostolic Administrator 1969 – 1992)

Archbishop Venedictos Printesis
(Apostolic Administrator 1959.05.15 – 1962)

Archbishop Marius Macrionitis, S.J.
(Apostolic Administrator 1952 – 1959.04.08)

Bishop Georges Xenopulos, S.J.
(Apostolic Administrator 1950 – 1953)

Archbishop Marco Sigala
(Apostolic Administrator 1947 – 1950)

Archbishop Giovanni Battista Filippucci
(Apostolic Administrator 1929 – 1947)

Bishop Alessandro Guidati (later Archbishop)
(1927.04.30 – 1929.07.15)

Born:	1882.12.04 (Corfù, Greece)
Ordained Priest:	1905.09.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1927.09.04
Died:	1952.06.25 († 69)

Titular Bishop of Adada (1927.04.30 – 1929.07.15)

Vicar Apostolic of Salonica (Greece) (1927.04.30 – 1929.07.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Naxos–Andros–Tinos–Mykonos (Greece) (1929.07.15 – 1947.02.22)

Apostolic Administrator of Chios (Greece) (1939 – 1947.02.22)

Titular Archbishop of Nicopolis in Epiro (1947.02.22 – 1952.06.25)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη), Central Macedonia
Former Cathedral, World Heritage Site (now ruined): Former Basilica of St. Paul, Filippi, Central Macedonia

Churches by City (10)

Corfu–Zakynthos–Kefalonia (↙), Southern Albania (←), Skopje (↖), Sofia–Plovdiv (↗), Istanbul (→), Chios (↘), Athens (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 56,793 km²

Population: 6,299 Catholics (0.2% of 3,300,720 total)

Pastoral Centres: 3 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 7 priests (3 diocesan, 4 religious), 8 religious (4 brothers, 4 sisters)

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.11.02

© 2026 GCatholic.org