View source for Damaskinos (Papandreou) of Johannesburg

His Eminence, the Most Reverend '''Damaskinos (Papandreou) of Johannesburg and Pretoria''' is [[Archbishop]] of the [[Archdiocese of Johannesburg and Pretoria]], part of the Greek Orthodox [[Church of Alexandria|Patriarchate of Alexandria]] and All Africa. Prior to his assignment to Johannesburg and Pretoria Abp. Damaskinos was Archbishop of Accra. 

==Life==
Damaskinos Papandreou was born in Ermione, Argolida in 1957. Following his school studies he entered University for which he was granted degrees in Theology and Political Science.

He entered the [[clergy]] in 1987. He was [[ordination|ordained]] [[deacon]], then [[priest]], and awarded the rank of [[archimandrite]]. During the following years he served as a priest, preacher, [[catechist]], and [[missionary]] in Greece and then Africa. In Africa, he served as [[parish]] priest in Durban and KwaZulu-Natal, where he opened new mission congregations in various parts of the province.

Fr. Damaskinos was elected by the [[Holy Synod]] of the Church of Alexandria on [[October 27]], 2004 as Bishop of [[Ghana]]. He was consecrated on [[October 30]] in the Church of St. Savvas in Alexandria.

Upon the elevation of the Diocese of Ghana to an [[archdiocese]] titled Archdiocese of Accra on [[October 9]], 2009, Bp. Damaskinos was raised to the dignity of Archbishop.

In October 2010, a rearrangement of diocesan responsibilities was made within the patriarchate of Alexandria to accommodated additional duties for Abp. [[Seraphim (Kykkotis) of Zimbabwe|Seraphim (Kykkotis)]] of Johannesburg and Pretoria as a patriarchal representative. As part of the rearrangement, Abp. Seraphim was transferred to the smaller Archdiocese of Zimbabwe. Abp. [[George (Vladimirou) of Guinea|George (Vladimirou)]] of Zimbabwe was transferred to lead the Archdiocese of Accra, replacing Abp. Damaskinos (Papandreou) who succeeded Abp. Seraphim as Archbishop of Johannesburg and Pretoria. Abp. Damaskinos was [[enthronement|enthroned]] on [[December 12]], 2010 by Pope and Patriarch [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria|Theodoros II]] of Alexandria at the [[Cathedral]] of Ss. Constantine and Helen in Johannesburg, South Africa.

{{start box}}
{{succession|
before=[[Panteleimon (Lampadarios) of Antinoe|Panteleimon (Lampadarios)]]|
title=Archbishop of Accra|
years=2004-2010|
after=[[George (Vladimirou) of Guinea|George (Vladimirou]]}}
{{succession|
before=[[Seraphim (Kykkotis) of Zimbabwe|Seraphim (Kykkotis)]]|
title=Archbishop of <br>Johannesburg and Pretoria|
years=2010-Present|
after=&mdash;}}
{{end box}} 

== Sources ==
* [http://www.patriarchateofalexandria.com/index.php?module=content&cid=004001 Patriarchate of Alexandria Diocese website]
* [http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/298657  New Orthodox Archbishop of Johannesburg and Pretoria  8 October 2010]
* [http://www.amen.gr/index.php?mod=news&op=article&aid=3617  Amen.gr] In Greek

[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of Accra]]
[[Category:Bishops of Johannesburg]]