Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria and All Africa, on the feast of Great Martyr Theodore the Tyro, celebrates his name day.
Patriarch Theodore (born Nicholas Horeftakis), was born in Crete on November 25, 1954, where he completed his schooling. He is a graduate of the Rizarios Ecclesiastical School of Athens and holds a degree from the Theological Faculty of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki. He also studied History of Art, Literature and Philosophy in Odessa in Russia.
During the years 1975-1985, he served as Archdeacon and then as Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Lampi and Sfakia, where he developed a significant preaching, pastoral and philanthropic activities. Having been called back to the Ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria by the late Patriarch Nicholas VI, he became Patriarchal Exarch of the Throne in Russia, based in Odessa between 1985-1990, where he established the Hellenic Cultural Institution and the Filiki Etaireia Museum.
In 1990 he was consecrated Bishop of Cyrene and was appointed Patriarchal Representative of Parthenios III in Athens (1990-1997), whom he accompanied on his missionary travels throughout the African Continent as well as to international Interfaith and Theological Assemblies. In 1997 he was appointed as Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria by the late Patriarch Petros VII.
In September of the same year, he was elected Metropolitan of Cameroon. During his tenure there he developed significant missionary activity. He built churches, schools and clinics, discreetly helping many Africans and Greeks.
In 2002 ha settled at the Holy Metropolis in Zimbabwe where he established 4 Missionary centres in the capital Harare, a Hellenic Cultural Centre able to accommodate 400 delegates, 2 large Missionary Centres in Malawi, housing Clinics, technical schools and nursery schools.
With the assistance of the Greek Parliament, he renovated the “Greek Square” (School-Church-Vicarage) in Beira, Mozambique. He also laid the foundations for churches and contributed to the establishment of Hellenic Communities in Botswana and Angola.
On October 9, 2004, he was unanimously elected by the Hierarchs of the Alexandrian Throne as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa. His Enthronement took place on October 24, 2004, at the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Alexandria, in the presence of many Primate and Representatives of all the Churches, the Cultural and Political Leaders of Greece and Egypt and thousands of Christians.
The general missionary activities of Patriarch Theodore, as well as his sweet and gentle character, are the reason for the love of all our African brothers and sisters for him, as well as of the Greeks and Arabs of Egypt and all Africa.
Source: basilica.ro
