One of the Egyptian Patriarchs, who was loved by his flock and the Hellenism of Egypt, was blessed Patriarch Parthenios III, for whom today, July 23, 2021, marks exactly 25 years since the day he fell asleep in the Lord suddenly on July 23, 1996, in Amorgos, from a heart attack.
Aris Koinidis was born on November 30, 1919, in Port Said, Egypt in a purely Greek environment. After the circular lessons in the Greek schools of Egypt, he studied at the Theological School of Halki until 1939 in Constantinople, where he was distinguished for his appeal to learning. He then trained in Oxford and Paris.
He was ordained a Deacon in 1939 and an Archdeacon in 1940. In 1958 he was elected Metropolitan of Carthage and on February 23, 1987, Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa.
He was distinguished for his theological knowledge and his activity in the Ecumenical Movement. He was even described as “the Patriarch of Dialogues”. He was President of the World Council of Churches. He engaged in the Orthodox mission, especially in Uganda, where he founded the Diocese of Kampala, and in Kenya.
Parthenios III served as Patriarch of Alexandria and all of Africa from 1987 to 1996, supporting, as one of his most beloved spiritual children, the current Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria.
A bust of the Blessed Patriarch Parthenios is now in the Holy Monastery of Saint Sava the Blessed in Alexandria.
Source: ekalexandria.org