Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr John Shinkwin as Secretary for External Relations. In this role, he will represent the Archdiocese in its relations with fellow Orthodox jurisdictions, with other Christian communities in the United Kingdom, and with wider religious communities. He succeeds the Revd Presbyter Andreas Minic, recently appointed Priest-in-Charge of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St Nicholas, Shepherd’s Bush.
Mr Shinkwin has served in a part-time capacity at the Archdiocese over the past year, supporting the Bible Study ministry of the Archdiocesan Chapel of the Transfiguration and assisting the Archbishop in his work against human trafficking. He brings to the position extensive experience in public affairs and education, having worked in Parliament and HM Civil Service, as well as teaching in secondary schools in the UK and at university level in the United States during graduate studies in Theology.
A graduate of Literae Humaniores (Classics) from the University of Oxford, he later returned to Oxford for a second degree in Theology and Arabic. He has also lived in the United States and Romania, and spent considerable time in Greece and the Middle East. On the feast of St Demetrios, 26th October 2024, he was ordained a Reader by His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas.
