The Patriarch
His Divine Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa Theodore II (known as Nicolas Choreftakis by his secular name).
His Divine Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa Theodore II (known as Nicolas Choreftakis by his secular name) was born in 1954 in Crete, where he also completed his general education. He is a graduate of the Rizarios Ecclesiastical School, and a graduate of the Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He also studied in Odessa, where he read History of Art, Literature, and Philosophy. Apart from his mother tongue, he also speaks Russian and French. During the period 1975 – 1985, he served as Archdeacon and Protosingelos of the Holy Metropolis... Read MoreTimeline
A historical timeline of the Holy Diocese of Madagascar
- 1949: The first church, the Assumption of Virgin Mary, is built by the Greek Community.
- 28-3-1957: Archbishop Makarios of Cyprus visits Tana, where he is warmly welcomed.
- 1994: Archimandrite Nektarios Kellis arrives in Madagascar and systematically commences his missionary work.
- 1995: The first Madagascan priest, father Ioannis Rakotontrazaly, is ordained by Chrysostomos, the Metropolitan of Zimbabwe. Nektaria Paradisi, a nun from St Patapios, arrives to assist father Nektarios Kellis.
- 1997: The Holy Diocese of Madagascar is founded: this diocese also includes the islands of Mauritius, the Comoros, Mayotte, and Reunion. The First Bishop elected is father Nektarios Kellis.
- 11-9-2004: Eighteen victims die when a Chinook helicopter falls into the sea near Mount Athos, in Greece. Among the dead is Nektarios, the Bishop of Madagascar.
- 14-11-2004: Following the death of Nektarios, the second Bishop of Madagascar is elected: father Ignatios Sennis.
The Metropolitan
The Most Reverend Metropolitan Ignatios of Madagascar (known as Pavlos Sennis by his secular name)
The Most Reverend Metropolitan Ignatios of Madagascar (known as Pavlos Sennis by his secular name), was born in Corinth in 1951, where he also completed his general education. He is a graduate of the Theological Faculty of the University of Thessaloniki, and a graduate of the Orthodox Theological Seminary of "Saint Nicholas". He is also a graduate mechanical engineer, and in addition to his mother tongue, he speaks English, Korean, and Indian. In July 1976, he was ordained a deacon and elder by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Panteleimonas of Corinth, and he became a monk at the Holy...
The First Bishop
The First Bishop of Madagascar, Mr. Nektarios Kellis.
The First Bishop of Madagascar, Mr. Nektarios Kellis, was born in 1952 in Malona, Rhodes. His secular name was George. His pious parents, Stergios and Panagiota taught him the Orthodox faith. Their financial difficulties brought them to Australia.His spiritual father was Father Gerbassios Kabourakis. He initially worked as a banker in Adelaide but, leaving everything behind, travelled to Athens to become a theologian and priest. He returned to Australia and worked avidly in many parishes. He served as a priest in Agia Anna in Chrysi Akti, in St. Panteleimon in Adelaide and in Flinders...