View source for Alexandros (Gianniris) of Nigeria

[[File:Alexandros Gianniris.jpg|thumb|His Eminence Alexandros of Nigeria]]
His Eminence, the Most Reverend '''Alexandros (Gianniris) of Nigeria''' was the [[Archdiocese of Nigeria|Metropolitan of Nigeria]] and Exarch of the Gulf of Guinea (Nigeria, Niger, Benin, Togo), part of the [[Church of Alexandria]].

==Life==
George Gianniris was born in Athens on [[May 15]], 1960. From 1978 to 1983, he graduated from the School of Agronomy of the University of Athens. George attended the liturgies of the [[Church of Greece]] with [[minor orders]].

On [[October 1]], 1988, George was [[ordination|ordained]] [[deacon]] by His Beatitude [[Seraphim (Tikas) of Athens|Seraphim of Athens]] (1975–1998) with the name of Alexandros. On the following day, he was ordained to the Holy [[Priest]]hood with the dignity of [[Archimandrite]]. In 1990 Father Alexandros was transferred to the [[Metropolis of Thessalonica|Metropolis of Thessaloniki]] in order to start his studies at the School of Theology of the University of Thessaloniki, from which he graduated in 1994.

Between the tenures of Patriarch [[Parthenios III (Koinidis) of Alexandria|Pathenios III]] (1987–1996) and Patriarch [[Petros VII (Papapetrou) of Alexandria|Petros VII of Alexandria]] (1997–2004), Archimandrite Alexandros was transferred to the [[Church of Alexandria|Patriarchate of Alexandria]], serving as the superior at the Patriarchal Church of the Holy Unmercenaries in the [[Archdiocese of Johannesburg]] in South Africa under Metropolitan [[Paul (Lyngris) of Memphis|Paul (Lyngris)]] (1968–1998) as well as secretary of the Metropolis. He was appointed Director of the Private Patriarchal Office in April 1997.

On [[September 23]], 1997, Archimandrite Alexandros was elected [[Bishop]] of the newly-formed [[Archdiocese of Nigeria|Diocese of Nigeria]] under the [[Archdiocese of Cameroon|Metropolis of Cameroon]] and its hierarch, His Beatitude [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria|Theodoros (Choreftakis)]] (1997–2002), now Patriarch of Alexandria. His [[consecration of a bishop|consecration]] took place on [[November 24]], 1997. His Grace and his see were elevated to the rank of Metropolitan and Metropolis on [[October 27]], 2004 by decision of the Holy Synod and Patriarch Theodoros, who was enthroned on the same month.

Being a member of the Holy Synod, His Eminence attended the Council of Crete in 2016. At the time, Metropolitan Alexandros condemned the political pressure that was being put in the Church by Ukrainian politicians regarding the creation of the alternative synod that would take place two years later.

His Eminence has been struck down by the pandemic in 2021, and his health deteriorated. On 30 June 2023, after twenty six years ruling the see of the most populous country in Africa, Alexandros reposed in the Lord in a hospital in Athens.

== Source ==
* [http://www.greekorthodox-alexandria.org/index.php?module=content&cid=004001 Patriarchate of Alexandria Archdiocese List website]


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title=[[Archdiocese of Nigeria|Bishop of Nigeria]]|
years=1997–2004|
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title=[[Archdiocese of Nigeria|Metropolitan of Nigeria]]|
years=2004–2023|
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[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of Nigeria]]
[[Category:Theological School of Aristotle University of Thessalonica Graduates]]