Metropolitan Varnavas of Neapolis and Stavroupolis (Markos Tyris) was born in Diavata, Thessaloniki, in 1958. He completed his primary and secondary education in his hometown and subsequently studied at the Ecclesiastical School of Lamia. He received the degree of the Pedagogical Academy of Lamia and thereafter the degree of the Faculty of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. After the completion of his studies, he worked successfully at the well-known biscuit industry “Papadopoulos,” initially as a worker and later as an administrative executive. He was tonsured a Monk and ordained Deacon in 1984 by His Eminence Metropolitan Dionysios of Neapolis and Stavroupolis. In the same year he was ordained Presbyter and received the offikion of Archimandrite. Subsequently, he also received the offikion of Archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne. He served as General Archieratical Vicar and Protosyncellus of the Holy Metropolis of Neapolis and Stavroupolis. From 1989 until his election as Bishop, he was responsible for the Office of the Central Financial Service of the Church of Greece in Thessaloniki. On Wednesday, October 6, 2004, the feast day of the Apostle Thomas, he was elected by the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece as Metropolitan of Neapolis and Stavroupolis. On Sunday, October 10, 2004, he was ordained Bishop at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens. On Sunday, November 7, 2004, he was enthroned at the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Forerunner in Neapoli.