Today, 20 February 2022, the ordination of His Grace Chrysostomos the elected Bishop of Bukoba and Western Tanzania took place in an atmosphere of emotion and joy, by His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa at the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of St Savvas the Sanctified in Alexandria.
Participating in the hierarchical concelebration were Their Eminences Metropolitans Ignatios of Dimitriada, Theoklitos of Ierissos Narcissus of Pelusium, Daniel of Aksum, and Their Graces the Bishops Germanos of Tamiathus and Nicodemus of Nilopolis, together with priests from the Holy Metropolis of Ierissos, other Metropolises of the Church of Greece, as well as from the Diocese of Bukoba. Also present were faithful christians from Alexandria and pilgrims coming from the Metropolis of Ierissos, headed by the Abess Mariam, of the Holy Monastery of St Cosma the Aetolian in Arnaia. Serving also at the Holy Service were students from the Patriarchal “Agios Athanasios” Academy.
In his ordination speech the Elected Bishop of Bukoba starting with the psalm verse “Thy mercy O Lord, shall follow me all the days of my life”, he sketched the journey of his life to this day.
His Beatitude Theodoros, the Pope and Patriarch expressed his joy for today’s ordination, and the common bonds with the Elected one. The Rizarios Ecclesiastical School was their mutual nourisher. When His Beatitude was graduating in 1974, Fr Chrysostomos was just entering it. He went on to express his respect for the late Blessed Metropolitan Augustine of Florina and his contribution to the Church. He also mentioned his particular love for Tanzania and Bukoba.
"I have a special love for the beautiful Tanzania which I have visited four times and the most beautiful Bukoba which I have also visited four times.
I once asked His Beatitude the Archbishop of Albania, who served the mission in the Diocese of Irenopolis from 1982-1991 during difficult years: – If you wanted to go back to Africa, where would you go? Then he answered me nostalgically: – To Bukoba.
So beautiful is the green Bukoba next to Lake Victoria!
And if Bukoba is beautiful, so much more beautiful are the people of Bukoba”.
His Beatitude remembered his recent visit to Bukoba in October 2021.
“"My joy and appreciation for Fr. Chrysostomos has multiplied after my visit to Bukoba. "Such a reception has never occurred ever in the 17 years of my Patriarchate anywhere".
After the service, a reception was offered at the hall of the Monastery and a meal at the Hellenic Naval Club of Alexandria for everyone.
