After his air transfer from the Congo and his admission to the Intensive Care Unit of the “Papanikolaou” Hospital, the Metropolitan of Kinshasa Nikiforos Mikragiannanitis fell asleep in the Lord.
It is recalled that the blessed Metropolitan of Kinshasa, venerable Nikiforos, was hospitalized with coronavirus in a Congo hospital from where he was transported at noon on Tuesday, July 27 to Thessaloniki to be admitted to the “Papanikolaou” Hospital.
The air transport operation was carried out by the Greek Government, coordinated by the Political Commander of Mount Athos, Martinos, and other officials, in cooperation with the Congolese authorities.
Who was the blessed Metropolitan of Kinshasa?
The Metropolitan of Kinshasa, Exalted and Exarch of all Equinox, Nikiforos (according to George Constantinou) was born in Thessaloniki in 1949.
After graduating from the Practical High School of Thessaloniki he studied at the Ecclesiastical Tutoring Center of Thessaloniki (1967-1969).
In 1975 he graduated from the Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, while in 1999 he was awarded a doctorate by the Department of Theology of the same School.
In 1971 he became a monk in the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegian Monastery of the Holy Trinity of Tzagarolon, Chania. He was ordained a deacon on August 22 of the same year.
In 1977 he retired to Mount Athos, was appointed professor at the Athoniada Ecclesiastical Academy and then deputy Scholar, and in 1988, at the suggestion of the Holy Community of Mount Athos, he was appointed Scholar by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
In 1978 he was ordained a presbyter by Bishop Chrysostomos of Rodostolos and Archimandrite was ordained by Metropolitan Nikodimos of Ierissos and Mount Athos.
In 1997 he resigned from the school of Athoniada and at the invitation of Archbishop Anastasios of Albania undertook the organization of the first Ecclesiastical Lyceum in Argyrokastro.
Since 2006 he participates in the administration of the Orthodox University of the Congo “Saint Athanasios the Athonite”, where he teaches.
He authored many scientific studies while taking part in various conferences in Greece and abroad.
On October 7, 2010, at the proposal of Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa, he was elected Metropolitan of Central Africa by the Holy Synod.