Memorial Service held for Greek Patriarch Alexandria Petros VII

A memorial service was held on Wednesday 15th September for the late Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria, Petros VII.

The Patriarch and 16 others tragically died in a helicopter crash this weekend as they travelled from Athens to the Mt. Athos all-male monastic community.

The Head of State mourned the death of a beloved figure of such significance to Africa and South Africa. The memorial service held Wednesday morning at Athens' Metropolitan Cathedral, officiated by Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece and the entire Holy Synod, and attended by President of the Republic Costis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou, ministers and MPs.

Archbishop Christodoulos hailed the Patriarch's personality and his efforts to realise his visions for Orthodoxy and Hellenism in Africa.

A statement from President Thabo Mbeki said: "He had very close ties with South Africa, having lived here previously, and showed admiration for our transition to democracy, and a firm grasp of relevant issues such as African renewal."

The Patriarch's funeral will be held at 5:00 p.m. at St. George monastery in old Cairo, and will be attended by Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos and the prelates of all the eastern Orthodox churches.

The Holy Synod of the Alexandria Patriarchate will convene on Monday to begin the process of electing a new Patriarch.

Patriach Petros VII was born in the village of Sichari in Cyprus on 3 September 1949.

In 1966, he was sent from the monastery of Machera to the Apostle Barnabas Seminary in Nocosia, from which he graduated in 1969. In August of that year he was ordained deacon at the Holy Monastery of Machera by Chrysostomos, then bishop of Constantias, who later became Archbishop of Cyprus.

In October 1980 he was sent to South Africa, where he was appointed priest in charge of the newly established Church of Panagia Pantanassa in Melrose, Johannesburg.





Jenny Lee
Ecumenical Press