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 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 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 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 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 enthroned on December 12, 2010 by Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria at the Cathedral of Ss. Constantine and Helen in Johannesburg, South Africa.
| Damaskinos (Papandreou) of Johannesburg | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Panteleimon (Lampadarios) |
Archbishop of Accra 2004-2010 |
Succeeded by: George (Vladimirou |
| Preceded by: Seraphim (Kykkotis) |
Archbishop of Johannesburg and Pretoria 2010-Present |
Succeeded by: — |