Alexandria, Egypt, October 10, 2019
Photo: Romfea
His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria was unanimously elected as primate by the hierarchs of the Alexandrian Patriarchate on October 9, 2004 and was enthroned on October 24, 2004 at the Church of the Annunciation in Alexandria.
Yesterday, His Beatitude celebrated his 15th anniversary as Patriarch of the ancient and apostolic throne of St. Mark in the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of St. Savva in Alexandria, together with all his brother hierarchs, who had gathered for a regular session of the Holy Synod and to celebrate their beloved archpastor, reports Romfea.
Photo: Romfea
The festive Divine Liturgy was also attended by several public officials and numerous Orthodox faithful.
During the service, Pat. Theodoros ordained a certain Monk Parthenios to the diaconate, and the celebration of the day was proclaimed by His Eminence Metropolitan Nicodemus of Memphis and Patriarchal Commissioner of Cairo.
“Today Alexandria is celebrating, today the Orthodox Church of Africa is celebrating, today the Orthodox Mission is celebrating. Today, here in this historic church, the cathedral of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa, the Great and Apostolic family of St. Apostle and Evangelist Mark is celebrating. Here in the Holy Land of St. Savvas, 15 years ago today, we celebrated with great joy your meritorious and just election. It was a sunny and blessed Saturday,” Met. Nicodemus said.
Photo: Romfea
His Beatitude was visibly touched by the celebration. “My eyes are full of tears,” Pat. Theodoros said in his speech, recalling the service in October 2004 when he took up the patriarchal obedience. “I looked at the crucifix and said, ‘Theodore, you are not just a bishop anymore; you are the father for all these people,’” he said, reports ekkairo.org.
“I thought to myself, ‘Theodore, take your staff, put love in your heart, and move on,’” he said, recalling his thoughts as he walked through the Royal Doors for the first time as patriarch.
Traditional dances were performed in the church courtyard following the Liturgy.
***
Patriarch Theodoros’ biography from the official website of the Alexandrian Patriarchate:
His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Afica (born Nicholas Horeftakis), was born in Crete in 1954, where he completed his schooling. He is a graduate of the Rizarios Ecclesiastical School of Athens and holds a degree from the Theological Faculty of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki. He also studied History of Art, Literature and Philosophy in Odessa in Russia. During the years 1975-1985 he served as Archdeacon and then as Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Lambis and Sfakion, where he developed a significant preaching, pastoral and philanthropic activities. Having been called back to the Ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria by the late Patriarch Nicholas VI, he became Patriarchal Exarch of the Throne in Russia, based in Odessa between 1985-1990, where he established the Hellenic Cultural Institution and the Philikis Eterias Museum.
In 1990 he was consecrated Bishop of Cyrene and was appointed Patriarchal Representative of Parthenios III in Athens (1990-1997), whom he accompanied on his missionary travels throughout the African Continent as well as to international Interfaith and Theological Assemblies. In 1997 he was appointed as Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria by the late Patriarch Petros VII. In September of the same year he was elected Metropolitan of Cameroon. During his tenure there he developed significant missionary activity. He built churches, schools and clinics, discreetly helping many Africans and Greeks. In 2002 ha settled at the Holy Metropolis in Zimbabwe where he established 4 Missionary centres in the capital Harare, a Hellenic Cultural Centre able to accommodate 400 delegates, 2 large Missionary Centres in Malawi, housing Clinics, technical schools and nursery schools. With the assistance of the Greek Parliament he renovated the “Greek Square” (School-Church-Vicarage) in Beira, Mozambique. He also laid the foundations for churches and contributed to the establishment of Hellenic Communities in Botswana and Angola.
On 9th October 2004 he was unanimously elected by the Hierarchs of the Alexandrian Throne as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa. His Enthronement took place on 24th October 2004 at the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Alexandria, in the presence of many Primate and Representatives of all the Churches, the Cultural and Political Leaders of Greece and Egypt and thousands of Christians. The general missionary activities of His Beatitude, as well as his sweet and gentle character, are the reason for the love of all our African brothers and sisters for him, as well as of the Greeks and Arabs of Egypt and all Africa.
