On Sunday, February 19, 2023, presided by his Beatitude Theodoros II Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy was served in the Holy Church of the Apostle Luke of the Holy Diocese of Nyeri, con-celebrated by Their Eminences the Metropolitans Ieronymos of Kampala, Innocentius of Burundi and Rwanda, Daniel of Aksum, as well as Their Graces the Bishops Neophytos of Eldoret, Silvester of Jinja, Nektarios of Gulu and Panaretou of Nyeri.
The Holy Clergy and a multitude of Orthodox believers welcomed His Beatitude and the newly elected Bishop Panareto, who comes from the local Kikuyu tribe, with shouts of spiritual joy. After the end of the Divine Liturgy, the enthronement of the new Bishop Nyeri took place.
The His Grace Bishop Panaretos thanked the authorities of the country who attended the ceremony, the holy Hierarchs, the clergy and the faithful people. He referred with respect to the person of His Eminence Nikiforos Metropolitan of Kykkos and Tellyria Mr. Nikiforos for his love and support towards him, during the years of his stay and ministry in Cyprus. At the same time, he also addressed heartfelt filial thanks to the highly respected Metropolitan Makarios of Nairobi, because from his hands he received the two degrees of the Priesthood, Deacon and Priest.
He expressed particular thanks to His Beatitude Theodoros II the Missionary Patriarch of Love for the trust in his person, his election as bishop of the Alexandrian Throne, as well as for the honor of traveling to Kenya, to perform the Enthronement and to paternally bless his spiritual children.
The Alexandrian Primate emphasized to the new Bishop: “This day is your day. Now open your arms to embrace the people of Nyeri. Give paternal love to your clan, rest your brothers and sisters. From Alexandria I will watch you and pray for you, as well as for all the Hierarchs who ordained these earthly hands, so that I may have a little word of excuse on the day of Judgment. Beside you will be His Excellency the President of the country, all the faithful people of God, who are devoted to our ancient Patriarchate. Walk in the steps of Christ in peace and may the blessing of Saint Mark protect you.”
Today, Monday, February 20, 2023, by the grace of God, the many-day journey of the Alexandrian Primate, Theodoros II to Kenya was completed.
The Word of God was “sown” in the fertile soil of Kenya, the unity of His Church was established, the devotion of Clergy and People to the Second Throne Apostolic Throne was founded “on a Rock”.
The missionary journeys of the Spiritual Father of the Orthodox in Africa, His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II will continue intensively in many more countries on the Continent, so that the saving message of the Gospel of Christ can reach “all nations”.
And “the word of God spread more widely; and the number of Christians grew greatly” (Acts 6:7). In the local “Lamp” of Kenya, a “light” has been lit again, which will illuminate “every man coming into the world” To Him be the glory and the Power to the ages of ages. Amen!
Curriculum Vitae of His Grace Panaretos Bishop of Nyeri.
The His Grace Panaretos Kykkotis Bishop of Nyeri (born Samuel Kimani) was born in 1985 in Gikuni, Kikuyu Kiambu province in Kenya.
He is a graduate of the “Archbishop Makarios III” Patriarchal Academy, from 2008. He moved to Cyprus in 2009 and was ordained a Deacon in the Holy Monastery of Mahaira by His Eminence Makarios Metropolitan of Nairobi, on May 1, 2010.
Subsequently, on January 2, 2011, in the Holy Church of Saint Dimitrios Paralimni, of the Holy Metropolis of Constantia and Famagusta, he was ordained a Presbyter by His Eminence Makarios Metropolitan of Nairobi
He was tonsured a small schema monk at the Holy Monastery of Kykkos on 9th September 2011 by the Very Reverend Archimandrite Agathonikos, Chief Secretary and Director of the Holy Monastery of Kykkos. He was consecrated on 11 November 2015 as Archimandrite in Alexandria at the Holy CHurch of St Savas by His Beatitude Theodoros II Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria.
He graduated in Psychology from the European University of Nicosia in 2017. He holds a Master’s Degree in Theology from the University of Nicosia in 2019, as well as a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the European University of Nicosia.
He is a PhD candidate at the University of Nicosia, where he is preparing a Doctoral Thesis, on the topic: “The New Commandment of Love (John 13:34) in the Johannine Writings. Healing and Transformative Power for the World and Humanity”.
He served for 2 years, as a Priest in the Metropolitan Holy Church of Saints Constantine and Helen in Kato Pyrgos of Tellyria and then in the Holy Church of Saint George in Mosfyli of the Holy Metropolis of Kykkos and Tellyria. He now serves as Parish Priest in the Dependency of Holy Monastery of Kykkos in Nicosia. He speaks and writes English, Swahili and Kikuyu and the Greek language.
On November 24, 2022, by proposal of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and by decision of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, he was elected Provincial Bishop of Nyeri and Mount Kenya.
