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He then came to Athens and joined the Holy Monastery of the Bodiless Powers (Petraki),<ref group="note">(Greek: [http://www.monipetraki.gr/ Ιεράς Μονής Ασωμάτων - Πετράκη])</ref> where his main duty was that of father [[Confession|confessor]] for people of all ages and walks of life, becoming well respected and loved. In the years of occupation<ref group="note">Second World War, and the ensuing [[w:Greek Civil War|Greek Civil War]].</ref> Fr. Chrysostomos went to [[w:Edessa, Greece|Edessa]] where he served as the General Hierarchical [[Vicar]] and [[Protosyngellos]]. Subsequently he was transferred to [[w:Kozani|Kozani]], Thessaloniki, and Athens, where he received his Secondary School Diploma. Eventually he returned again to the Monastery of the Bodiless Powers (Petraki) in Athens, from where he determined to enroll in the University of Athens Theological School. At the age of 55, in 1958, he finally received his theological degree which he had so greatly desired.
During the course of his studies in Athens he came into contact with certain colleagues of African descent, who may have inspired him towards his forthcoming mission. The African students at the University were from Uganda, and represented the first native Orthodox Christians from Uganda to be formally educated in the Orthodox faith. One of these fellow students, [[Theodoros (Nankyamas ) of Kampala and All Uganda|Theodore (Nankyamas)]], would later play a prominent role and become one of the first Orthodox [[bishop]]s in East Africa. Another, Demetrios Mumbale, would become the first Orthodox physician and founder of an Orthodox medical clinic in Uganda.<ref name=VERONIS>Fr. [[Alexander Veronis ]] ([[Orthodox Christian Mission Center|OCMC]]). ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=W1QiVpBKfhYC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false Orthodox Concepts of Evangelism and Mission].'' In: Paul Wesley Chilcote, & Laceye C. Warner (Eds.). '''The Study of Evangelism: Exploring a Missional Practice of the Church'''. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2008. pp.279-294.)</ref> In the event, after many years of faithful service in his native country, he experienced a strong leading, a true "Macedonian Call,"<ref group="note">Acts 16:6-10.</ref> to go as a [[missionary]] to Africa.<ref name=MAKARIOS>[[Makarios (Tillyrides) of Kenya]]. ''Sermon at a Memorial Service for the Pioneer Missionary Rev. Archimandrite Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos, at the Church of St. Paul, Kagira, 29 December, 1993.'' '''Adventures in the Unseen, Volume 1.''' Orthodox Research Institute, 2004. pp.115-119.</ref>
==Africa 1960-1972==
[[Category:Missionaries]]
[[Category:University of Athens Theology School Graduates]]
[[el:Χρυσόστομος Παπασαραντόπουλος]]
