Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria
Encyclopedia
Theodore II (Πάπας και Πατριάρχης Αλεξανδρείας και πάσης Αφρικής Θεόδωρος Β΄)(born Nikolaos Horeftakis on November 25, 1954) is the current Eastern Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa. He is formally styled His Divine Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of the Great City of Alexandria, Libya, Pentapolis
, Ethiopia, All Egypt and All Africa, Father of Fathers, Pastor of Pastors, Prelate of Prelates, the Thirteenth of the Apostles and Judge of the Ecumene. He is the leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Africa and Madagascar.
island of Crete
in 1954, where he completed his schooling. He is a graduate of the Rizarios Ecclesiastical School in Athens
and holds a degree from the Theological Faculty of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
. He also studied History of Art, Literature and Philosophy in Odessa
. From 1975 to 1985 he served as Archdeacon and Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Lambis and Sfakion in Crete, where he developed significant Preaching and Philanthropic activities (hostels for needy youth, etc.). From 1985 to 1990 he served as Patriarchal Exarch in Russia
, based in the Ukrainian city of Odessa
, during the tenure of Patriarchs Nicholas VI
and Parthenios
.
Theodore established the Institution of Hellenic Culture and the Philiki Eterea Museum with 600 children, where they were taught a thorough knowledge of Greek. In 1990 he was ordained Bishop of Kyrene and was appointed Representative of Patriarch Parthenios in Athens (1990–1997). He always accompanied Patriarch Parthenios on his travels throughout Africa and to many international, interfaith and theological conferences.
In 1997 he was appointed Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria by Patriarch Petros VII
to assist him at the outset of his Patriarchate and after ten months he was elected as Metropolitan of Cameroon
. He greatly developed missionary activity there. He built churches, schools and hospitals, helping many Africans and local Greeks. In 2002 he was transferred to the Holy Metropolis of Zimbabwe
, where he established four missionary centres in Harare
, a Hellenic Cultural Centre for 400 delegates, two large missionary centres in Malawi
, with a hospital, technical schools and nursery schools. Aided by the Greek Parliament he renovated the Hellenic Square (School-Church-Vicarage) in Beira
, Mozambique
. He founded churches and contributed to the establishment of the Hellenic Communities of Botswana and Angola.
In the wake of the death of Patriarch Petros and other senior bishops in a helicopter crash in the Aegean Sea, Theodore was unanimously elected on October 9, 2004 by the Synod of the Alexandrian Throne as Patriarch. The enthronement
ceremony took place at the Cathedral of Annunciation in Alexandria, on Sunday, October 24, 2004, in the presence of distinguished religious and civilian representatives and a great number of faithful.
Pentapolis
A pentapolis, from the Greek words , "five" and , "city" is a geographic and/or institutional grouping of five cities...
, Ethiopia, All Egypt and All Africa, Father of Fathers, Pastor of Pastors, Prelate of Prelates, the Thirteenth of the Apostles and Judge of the Ecumene. He is the leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Africa and Madagascar.
Biography
He was born on the GreekGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
island of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
in 1954, where he completed his schooling. He is a graduate of the Rizarios Ecclesiastical School in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
and holds a degree from the Theological Faculty of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is the largest Greek university, and the largest university in the Balkans. It was named after the philosopher Aristotle, who was born in Stageira, Chalcidice, about 55 km east of Thessaloniki, in Central Macedonia...
. He also studied History of Art, Literature and Philosophy in Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
. From 1975 to 1985 he served as Archdeacon and Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Lambis and Sfakion in Crete, where he developed significant Preaching and Philanthropic activities (hostels for needy youth, etc.). From 1985 to 1990 he served as Patriarchal Exarch in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, based in the Ukrainian city of Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
, during the tenure of Patriarchs Nicholas VI
Patriarch Nicholas VI of Alexandria
Nicholas VI served as Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria between 1968 and 1986.-References:...
and Parthenios
Patriarch Parthenius III of Alexandria
Parthenius III served as the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria between 1987 and 1996. Patriarch Parthenius III died of a heart attack in 1996, during his vacations in the Greek islands.-References:...
.
Theodore established the Institution of Hellenic Culture and the Philiki Eterea Museum with 600 children, where they were taught a thorough knowledge of Greek. In 1990 he was ordained Bishop of Kyrene and was appointed Representative of Patriarch Parthenios in Athens (1990–1997). He always accompanied Patriarch Parthenios on his travels throughout Africa and to many international, interfaith and theological conferences.
In 1997 he was appointed Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria by Patriarch Petros VII
Patriarch Peter VII of Alexandria
Petros VII was the Greek Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa from 1997 to 2004.-Biography:...
to assist him at the outset of his Patriarchate and after ten months he was elected as Metropolitan of Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
. He greatly developed missionary activity there. He built churches, schools and hospitals, helping many Africans and local Greeks. In 2002 he was transferred to the Holy Metropolis of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, where he established four missionary centres in Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, a Hellenic Cultural Centre for 400 delegates, two large missionary centres in Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, with a hospital, technical schools and nursery schools. Aided by the Greek Parliament he renovated the Hellenic Square (School-Church-Vicarage) in Beira
Beira, Mozambique
Beira is the second largest city in Mozambique. It lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. Beira had a population of 412,588 in 1997, which grew to an estimated 546,000 in 2006...
, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. He founded churches and contributed to the establishment of the Hellenic Communities of Botswana and Angola.
In the wake of the death of Patriarch Petros and other senior bishops in a helicopter crash in the Aegean Sea, Theodore was unanimously elected on October 9, 2004 by the Synod of the Alexandrian Throne as Patriarch. The enthronement
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
ceremony took place at the Cathedral of Annunciation in Alexandria, on Sunday, October 24, 2004, in the presence of distinguished religious and civilian representatives and a great number of faithful.