In an atmosphere of emotion and joy, the Episcopal ordination of Bishop-Elect Panaretos of Nyeri and Mount Kenya, in the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of Saint Savvas of Alexandria, was performed on Sunday, 15 January 2023, by Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa.
Present also and participating in the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy were Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamassos and Oreini, Metropolitan Panteleimon of Naucratis, Bishop Neophytos of Eldoret, and Bishop Germanos of Tamiatheos, who were all joined by many priests from the Holy Patriarchal Monastery. Joined in prayer for this auspicious occasion were many Alexandrian Christians and pilgrims who had traveled from Cyprus.
In his ordination speech, Bishop-Elect Panaretos referred to the ministry that the Bishop is called to perform. He expressed his thanks and deep gratitude to Metropolitan Nikiforos of Kykkos and Tellyria, for his support over the last 11 years at the Holy Stavropegic Monastery of Kykkos, as well as thanking Metropolitan Makarios of Nairobi from whom he received the first two levels of ordination in 2010 and 2011 respectively. He also thanked Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamassos, for his support, as well as the Protosyncellus of the Metropolis of Kykkos and Tellyria and Prefect of the Monastery, Fr. Agathonikos Kykkotis.
Patriarch Theodore expressed his joy for the ordination and the common ties with both the Bishop-Elect and the Metropolitans Nikiforos of Kykkos, Isaiah of Tamassos, and the Prefect of the Kykkos Monastery, Father Agathonikos.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamassos, representing both Metropolitan Nikiforos of Kykkos, as well as the Holy and Royal Stavropegic Monastery of Kykkos, addressed the Patriarch of Alexandria.