The Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, chaired by Pope and Patriarch Theodore II, met today, February 15, 2024, at the Katholikon of the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of Saint George in Old Cairo.
The Patriarch proclaimed the commencement of the work, delivering a heartfelt address to the Synodal Hierarchs. Among various points emphasized, he underscored the symbolic significance of convening the Holy Synod’s session on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of his Patriarchate. He noted the sacredness of the location, where many of his predecessors rest in eternal peace, having defended the unity and prerogatives of the Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria.
Elder Metropolitan Gabriel of Leontopolis, Patriarchal Vicar General, responded to the Patriarch on behalf of the Hierarchs.
Metropolitan Narcissus of Pelusium, Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria, was honored with the prestigious title of Grand Commander of St. Mark, commemorating his dedicated ten-year tenure in the hierarchy.
Subsequently, the Patriarch accepted the resignation of Metropolitan Innokentios of Burundi for health reasons, awarding the honorary title of Metropolitan of Sozusa. The Patriarch did not accept the resignation of Metropolitan Athanasios of Cyrene.
Then, the Patriarch briefed the Holy Synod on his work during the past period spanning from last November to the present day, encompassing all facets of his hierarchical duties and responsibilities.
Afterwards, it was decided for pastoral reasons:
-the division of the Holy Metropolis of Burundi and Rwanda into two Dioceses a) Bujumbura and Burundi and b) Kigali and Rwanda. Archimandrite Nektarios Doumas was appointed Patriarchal Vicar of the Holy Diocese of Kigali.
-the renaming of the church diocese of Botswana to the Holy Diocese of Gaborone and Botswana.
The Holy Synod convened for the election of new hierarchs.
Following proposals made by the Patriarch, the Holy Synod elected the following current Metropolitans:
-Metropolitan Theophylaktos of Tripoli was given the title of Elder Metropolitan of Caesarea.
-Metropolitan Emmanuel of Ptolemais was elected Metropolitan of Diospolis.
-Metropolitan Panteleimon of Naucratis was elected Metropolitan of Ptolemais, who remains in the position of Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod.
-Bishop Theodore of Babylon was elected Metropolitan of Brazzaville and Gabon.
-Metropolitan Daniel of Axum was elected Metropolitan of Accra.
-Metropolitan Petros of Accra was elected Metropolitan of Axum.
-Metropolitan Gennadios of Botswana was elected Metropolitan of Libya, who remains the representative of the Patriarchate in the Holy See.
-Metropolitan Nikodimos of Neiloupolis was elected Metropolitan of Nigeria.
The following Bishops were also elected:
-Archim. Isaac Tsapoglou was elected Bishop of Bujumbura and Burundi.
-Archimandrite Timotheos Duba was elected Bishop of Gomas (in the Democratic Republic of Congo).
-Archim. Polykarpos Diamantopoulos was elected Bishop of Bunia and Kisangani (in the Democratic Republic of Congo).
-Archimandrite Konstantinos Bonabiya was elected Bishop of Juba and South Sudan.
-Archim. Athanasios Kayebe was elected Bishop of Benin and Togo.
Archim. Stefanos Soulimiotis was elected Assistant Bishop of Ippon to the Patriarch.
Finally, the elected candidates participated in the Ceremony of the Formal Election Announcement (Mega Minima). The session of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria will resume tomorrow, February 16.
