View source for Nicholas II (Antoniou) of Hermopolis

[[File:Nicholas Antoniou.jpeg|thumb|His Eminence Nicholas II of Hermopolis]]
His Eminence, the Most Reverend '''Nicholas II (Antoniou) of Hermopolis''' is the current [[Archdiocese of Hermopolis|Archbishop of Hermopolis]] and Exarch of Aegyptus Primus, part of the [[Church of Alexandria]].

== Life ==
The future Archbishop Nicholas was born in Cairo, Egypt on [[March 20]], 1944. His initial education was as an engineer, receiving, in 1974, a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Helwan University in Cairo. After having entered the ranks of the [[clergy]] he received a degree in Theology from the Antiochian [[St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology (Tripoli, Lebanon)|St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology]] of the [[Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand]] in Tripoli, Lebanon in 1988. 

He was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[hierodeacon]] in 1980 bearing the same name, and then a [[priest]] in 1983 under Patriarch [[Nicholas VI (Varelopoulos) of Alexandria|Nicholas VI of Alexandria]] (1968–1986). In 1992, Father Nicholas was elevated to the rank of [[Archimandrite]] by Patriarch [[Parthenios III (Koinidis) of Alexandria|Parthenios III]] (1986–1996). Because of his formation in Lebanon, Archimandrite Nicholas was entrusted to the Arab flock of the patriarchate in Egypt which had its own bishopric, the [[Archdiocese of Hermopolis]].

Following the repose of Archbishop George (Azar) of Hermopolis (1997–2000), Archimandrite Nicholas served as Patriarchal [[Vicar]] to the Arab-speaking community. On [[March 18]], 2001, the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria under Patriarch [[Petros VII (Papapetrou) of Alexandria|Petros VII]] elected Archimandrite Nicholas to succeed Archbishop George as Archbishop of Hermopolis.

Being a member of the Holy Synod, His Eminence attended the Council of Crete in 2016 under His Beatitude the Patriarch [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria|Theodoros II]]. His Eminence's seat is the city of Tanta in Gharbia, canonically inside the territory of the Archdiocese of Alexandria.

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


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{{succession|
before=George (Azar)|
title=[[Archdiocese of Hermopolis|Archbishop of Hermopolis]]|
years=2001–Present|
after=&mdash;}}
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[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of Hermopolis]]
[[Category:St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology Graduates]]