Bishop Agathonikos (photo from here)
On
Saturday 29th April, the eve of the Enthronement of His Grace
Agathonikos Bishop of Arusha and Central Tanzania, with the blessing of
His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All
Africa and in the presence of His Eminence Dimitrios Metropolitan of
Irinopolis, Caretaker of the Diocese, a group of visitors from the Holy
Metropolis of Kitros and Katerini, comprising the Very Reverend
Archimandrite Maximos Kyritsis, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St
Dionysios in Olympus, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Barnabas
Leontiadis, Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Kitros, the Reverend
Protopresbyter Fr. Angelos Giannikis and the Archdeacon Fr. Panteleimon
Tsarapatsanis as well as Monk Marcellus from the Holy Monastery of St
Anthony in Arizona, America, in the Missionary Centre of Kidamal in the
Iriga district, group baptism took place in the outdoor baptistery of
the Holy Church of Ss Andronikos and Athanasia.
Specifically, 165
natives were baptized, among whom were many Masai from the surrounding
areas. These are moments that remind us of the first Christian years,
when you are faced with the enthusiasm and the appeal of faith of those
being baptized reflected in their illumined faces. After the baptisms
which lasted for four hours, a rich outdoor lunch was hosted for our
four hundred brothers and sisters present.
On 30th April, Sunday of the Myrrhbearers, and with the blessing of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope
and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, the enthronement of His
Grace Agathonikos Bishop of Arusha and Central Tanzania took place at
the Holy Church of St Dimitrios in the Hellenic Community of Iriga. The
Enthronement took place after the end of the Divine Liturgy and was
officiated by the Caretaker of the Diocese, His Eminence Metropolitan
Dimitrios of Irinopolis, who read the Greeting of His Beatitude and
addressed the newly-enthrone Bishop.
The Enthronement Address of His Grace Agathonikos followed, as follows:
Your Eminence Dimitrios,
Metropolitan of Irinopolis, Pious Priests and Deacons, Beloved people of
God of our Diocese, Dear friends, brothers and sisters. With great
faith and love I gave myself to the Divine will, obeying the call of His
Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa
and the Holy Synod of our Patriarchate, who elected me as your Hierarch
and Shepherd and I came gladly to live with you to convey to you the
peace, joy and power of the Gospel of our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ and
also to minister to you.
I understand how sacred and heavy the work
that I am undertaking is, from the moment that I ascend the steps of the
Sacred Throne, because I realize well the priceless value that the soul
of every human being has and that I will answer for each one of the day
of judgment. A Bishop’s Throne is not a Throne of glory, but a form of
the Cross, and he who ascends its steps must always be prepared to drink
of the Cup of Martyrdom which the Lord drank. St Ignatios the
God-bearer and great Saint and Apostolic Father of our Church says that a
Bishop stands “in type and place of Christ”. Therefore, the true Bishop
has as his prototype the Crucified Christ and Golgotha as his place.
Imitating Christ’s sacrifice a Bishop must offer himself completely to
all and to each one separately. This is the continuous sacred journey of
the Church to every single soul, because for each person there is a
special message from God, that He loved us so very much, that He gave
His only-begotten Son “that all who believe in Him will not be lost, but
will have life eternal” (John 3:16).
The entire essence and importance
of the Church’s mission is this. That both the lord and the simple
worker, the rich as well as the poor, the educated as well as the
illiterate, the righteous and the sinner, each one of us, must realise
that he or she is a child of God and to know that life and joy begin
only when we discover in the depths of our hearts God’s peace. God’s
Kingdom begins in every heart. Are you at peace with God? You have the
strength and the courage to face Him and to call Him “Father”. Do you
have all the worldly goods, but no peace with God? Then between you and
Him there is raised the barrier of sin.
I came to serve you and to give
you my heart. Please give me your hearts too, so that we can all become
one. Because this is the will of God for His Church, “that we may all be
one” (John 17:21). I address our priests and I assure them that I will
be beside them as a caring father, willing advisor, guide and
comforter, but also a conscientious overseer of the precise and faithful
and holy fulfillment of our duties to the faithful people. The life of a
priest must call and not turn away; must open doors and not close them.
It is better to have ten priests who affirm through their lives the
presence of God, rather than one hundred who refute it. Priests who
embrace the faithful with their fervent and caring prayer, who through
the example of their pure lives will lead the faithful to the peace of
God. I believe that all the priests in our Diocese will be inspired by
this blessed vision. Addressing all our Christian faithful, I tell you
my dear and beloved children, that from today you are the subject of my
prayer and my pastoral responsibility.
I want you to know, that you
will find paternal love and true interest in all your problems with all
the power of my soul for as long as the Lord will permit. I wish to
thank wholeheartedly with deep honour and gratitude His Eminence
Dimitrios Metropolitan of Irinopolis through whose hands I am enthroned
today, with whom I have a long and genuine friendship from our student
years and who agreed to offer the most precious and elite part of his
Metropolis, so that today we can all rejoice in the creation of this new
Diocese. I hope and pray, Your Eminence that God will grant you
crystalline health, so that for very many years you may contribute from
your pure heart your love to all of us who honour and love you.
Concluding my speech, I turn my heart and mind with gratitude to the
Sacred Centre of our Patriarchate, there where the heart of all of
Africa beats, in Alexandria and I kiss the Holy hand of our Father Pope
and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Theodoros II, The "Patriarch of Love", the Missionary Patriarch, to thank him once again for
the love and trust which he abundantly gave me all these years as I
studied under him. His great and pure Patriarchal love, fills with joy
and serenity all our hearts and strengthens us in our daily struggle. He
is our guide, our inspiration, our blessing and consolation at every
step.
I wholeheartedly thank my respected Elder Archimandrite Maximos,
His Eminence George Metropolitan of Kitrous and Katerini for the
blessing of the presence of his Chancellor Archimandrite Barnabas, my
dear broter Fr. Angelos Giannikis and his Archdeacon Fr. Panteleimon,
dear and precious brother Fr. Markellos from the Monastery in Arizona
and my friends Spyros from London, for the trouble and costs of their
journey to be with us. May God bless you all. Please remember us in
your prayers. Amen.
Immediately following the modest ceremony, a lunch was hosted for all present in the grounds of the Holy Church.
For the History: THE ORDINATION OF AGATHONIKOS BISHOP OF ARUSHA AND CENTRAL TANZANIA (from here)
On 11th December 2016, the Sunday of the Forefathers, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa
conducted the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy and during the service he
performed the ordination of His Grace Agathonikos, Bishop of Arusha and
Central Tanzania, at the Hοly Patriarchal Church of St. Savvas the
Sanctified in Alexandria.
Participating in the Eucharistic
Gathering and the ordination of His Grace were Their Eminences
Metropolitans Apostolos of Militus, George of Kitrous and Katerini,
Ioustinos of Nea Krini and Kalamaria, Dimitrios of Irinopolis, Niphon of
Pilousion, Narkissos of Accra the Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria and
Meletios of Carthage. Also present were the Honorable Consul General of
Greece in Alexandria Mr. Emmanuel Kakavelakis, the Honorable Chairman of
the Hellenic Community of Alexandria Mr. Ioannis Papadopoulos, the
Honorable Chairman of the Arabic speaking Community of Alexandria Mr.
Fouad and other Chairmen of Societies and Associations of Hellenic
Society. The Church was filled with faithful not only from Alexandria,
but also by many pilgrims from various parts of Greece who traveled to
be present at the ordination.
In his emotional address, His Beatitude said:
“The Didache of the Twelve Apostles
exhorts: “Elect, therefore, for yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of
the Lord, men who are meek and not covetous, and true and approved, for
they perform for you the service of prophets and teachers” (Didache
15:1). It is the ordination of such a new bishop that we celebrate
today, the elected Bishop Agathonikos of the newly-established Diocese
of Arusha and Central Tanzania, thereby rewarding the efforts and his
diverse ministry to the Church of the Saint and Evangelist Mark.
My child Agathonikos,
You were deemed worthy by God to be
honoured with the highest office of hierarch, an office about which St
Ignatios the God-bearer says: “The priests indeed are good, but the High
Priest is better; to whom the holy of holies has been committed, and
who alone has been trusted with the secrets of God. He is the door of
the Father, by which enter in Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the
prophets, and the apostles, and the Church. All these have for their
object the attaining to the unity of God” (To the Philadelphians 9:1).
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| Photo from here |
Your elevation to the rank of Bishop is
not accidental. Key participants in this are your brilliant character
and your morals, your methodical hard work, your excellent Theological
constitution, and your deep Ecclesiastical consciousness. You stood
beside Your Patriarch and carried the burden of the Private Patriarchal
Office and the Chief Secretariat of the Holy Synod. Your are a gifted
and able member of the clergy, exceptionally trained, but above all you
have a fervour and love for the Church of St Mark and its efforts with
the African people. You were a pioneer missionary in Tanzania and for
this reason our Holy Synod elected you as Bishop of the region of Arusha
in that country. Do not flinch when faced by the new directive given to
you by the Church of Alexandria. “Depart for I will send you far away
to the Gentiles”, says the Lord (Acts 22:21). “Be strong and of good
courage, do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God
who goes with you, he will not fail you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy
31:6).
Serve God’s people, “become an example
for believers” (1 Timothy 4:12), “a light to lighten the Gentiles” (Luke
2:32) and as St Gregory the Theologian says, become ”the lamp of the
Church” (Epistle 41:5). The people of Africa want light, so become the
light “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and. glorify your Father which is in heaven”(Matthew 5:16).
Disseminate your light, the light of the Church in the missions through
your sacrificial theology of contribution and hardship, but above all
with love “so that they might prepare God’s people to serve. Then the
body of Christ will be built up” (Ephesians 4:12). Minister to the
suffering African people having before you that Christ did not come to
earth “for tyranny and fear and consternation…but for grace and
gentleness…without force because force is not appropriate with God….he
does not persecute and he does not judge” (To Diogenes, 7). And as John
Chrysostomos adds: “the Bishop must be all things, to bear all the
weight of others; because for those who are enraged, it is forgiveness”
(Oration on Acts 60:39).
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| Photo from here |
That is why, my child Agathonikos,
follow the advisory words of the Didache of the Twelve Apostles “Do not
hesitate to give, to not grumble when giving; for you will know who is
the good paymaster of your reward. Do not turn away from him that is in
want, but make your brother partaker in all things, and do not say that
anything is your own. Never forsake the commandments of the Lord; but
keep those things which you have received, neither adding to them nor
taking away from them. (Didache 4:1-17). Preach in the depths of
Africa, as St Paul Says: “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out
of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and
careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2), preach Christ and Him crucified”
(1 Corinthians 2;2). “Do not give sleep to your eyes, or slumber to your
eyelids or rest to you temples: until you find out a place for the
Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob (Psalm 131:4-5).
Disseminate the values and the truths of
the Orthodox faith and the loving Orthodox way of life, throughout
Africa, the people and the cultures. Project the divine-human person of
the Risen Christ, who elevated human nature and revealed its sacredness
as a bearer of the image of Christ. Become the balm of love and sweeten
the pain of human hearts. Give your love to the suffering African
people; just one look and a compassionate word from you are enough to
wipe away the tears of their pain. “Love will show the true shepherd;
for love the great Shepherd was crucified”, says St John Chrysostomos
(John Chrysostomos, Oration on the Priesthood, II).
Give priority to the defence of the
rights of the weak, so that their honest labours are not constantly
misappropriated by those skilful in injustices. Protect the people of
Africa, especially the children, who are the hope of our Church and the
hope of Africa. Chooses as your colleagues those who fear God so that
His word may be magnified.
Do not be disappointed and do not be
afraid; arm yourself with strength and patience, walk on the wild waves
as Peter did, looking at Christ’s face. You have Him as your helper and
guide. Him who became “the price for setting many free” (Matthew 20:28).
He will hold you so that you can safely tread on the slippery paths of
your hierarchal ministry. In every difficulty you must always proclaim
the words of St John Chrysostomos “Glory to God in everything” and your
heart will be cleared of the burdens of your hierarchal ministry and the
smile of Christian joy will not leave your lips.
My dear child Agathonikos,
spread your honest hands, and “receive
the favour with fear, lend to him who gave, distribute to the poor and
acquire the Lord as your friend, that you may stand at His right hand
when He comes in glory, and you may hear His blessed voice: Enter my
servant into the joy of your Lord” (Doxastikon of the Aposticha of Great
and Holy Tuesday and Matthew 25:23).
After the dismissal of the Divine
Liturgy a festive meal was hosted for all present. His Beatitude then
received the guest Hierarchs from Greece and the group of pilgrims at
the Patriarchal Mansion, where they had the opportunity of a conducted
tour of the museums of the Patriarchate, and he gave them all
commemorative gifts and blessings.
Curriculum Vitae of Agathonikos Bishop of Arusha and Central Tanzania
Father Agathonikos (Nikolaidis) the Bishop of Arusha and Central Tanzania
was born in Giannitsa (in Greece) in 1964. He holds a Degree from the Educational
Academy in Florina and from the Theological Faculty of the Aristotelian
University of Thessaloniki. He has been a monk of the Holy Monastery of
St. Dionysios of Olympos since 1986. He served as Preacher in the
Metropolises of Florina and Kitrous, and from 2004 to 2011 he served in
various Missionary parts of Africa, following a blessing by His
Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa,
then as Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Tanzania.
In December 2013 following an invitation
from His Beatitude, he went to Alexandria where he served as Dean of
the Saint Athanasios Patriarchal Academy, as Codicographer and Director
of the Private Office of His Beatitude.
On 17th December 2016 by proposal of His
Beatitude the Patriarch, he was unanimously elected as Bishop of the
newly-established Diocese of Arusha and Central Tanzania, and was
ordained by His Beatitude on 11th December 2016 at the Holy Patriarchal
Church of St Savvas in Alexandria.
See also
Orthodox Tanzania (tag)
The Orthodox Church in Tanzania
“Christ is the hope of the Africans” : A spiritual Odyssey in Tanzania
Video kuhusu Kanisa la kale (Kanisa la Orthodox) katika Tanzania ― Video about the ancient Christian Church (Orthodox Church) in Tanzania ― Video antiikin kristillinen Kirkko (ortodoksikirkko) Tansaniassa
Tanzania (tag)
The Orthodox Church of Alexandria & the Patriarchate of Alexandria
Ancient Christian faith (Orthodox Church) in Africa
Orthodox Mission in Tropical Africa (& the Decolonization of Africa)
How “White” is the Orthodox Church?
Natives Africans bishops in the Orthodox Church
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