Bishop Chrysostomos (Maidonis) of Bukoba and Western Tanzania will be conferred an Honorary Doctorate by the Department of Theology of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The Honorary Doctorate Conferment Ceremony will take place on Thursday, 23 July 2026, at 7:30 p.m., in the “Alexandros Papanastasiou” Ceremonial Hall of the Old Building of the School of Philosophy.
Programme of the Honorary Doctorate Conferment Ceremony
Opening – Welcome Address by the President of the Department of Theology, Professor Elias Evangelou
Address of Greeting by the Rector of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor Kyriakos Anastasiadis
Citation in Honour of Bishop Chrysostomos of Bukoba and Western Tanzania, delivered by Associate Professor of the Department of Theology, Petros Panagiotopoulos
Honorary Doctorate Conferment Ceremony
Reading and Presentation of the Resolution and the Honorary Doctorate Diploma by the President of the Department of Theology, Professor Elias Evangelou
Presentation of the Insignia and Commemorative Plaque by the Rector of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor Kyriakos Anastasiadis
Screening of a video presentation on the missionary work in the Diocese of Bukoba and Western Tanzania
Address by the Honorary Recipient, entitled: “The Formation of Missionary Consciousness”
Hymns performed by the choir “Orthodox Africans”
Brief Biographical Note on the Honorary Recipient
Bishop Chrysostomos (Maidonis) of Bukoba and Western Tanzania was born in 1956 in Plomari, Lesbos. He studied Theology in Athens (Rizarios Ecclesiastical School, 1974–1976, and the School of Theology, 1977–1981). Immediately after completing his studies, he travelled to Mount Athos (1981), where he was tonsured a monk and ordained a Deacon (1982). He was ordained a Priest in Arnaia (1983), where he began a long and fruitful journey of spiritual service, with a wide range of activities encompassing all aspects of ecclesiastical pastoral ministry.
For two years (1991–1993), he contributed to the reorganisation of the Orthodox Church of Albania in the region of Gjirokastër (Argyrocastro). His service there was interrupted following his expulsion from the country. Immediately afterwards, he entered the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and served in Smyrna (1995–2000) and Myra of Lycia (1998–2008).
A distinct chapter in his ministry and pastoral work has been his contribution to Orthodox missionary activity. Through the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Church entrusted him, during the past six years, with the pastoral care of the Diocese of Bukoba and Western Tanzania, and, two years ago, also of Rwanda.
