View source for Gennadios (Stantzios) of Botswana

His Grace '''Gennadios (Stantzios) of Botswana''' is the [[Bishop]] of the [[Archdiocese of Botswana|Diocese of Botswana]] under the [[jurisdiction]] of the [[Church of Alexandria]], having initially led the new [[diocese]] as a [[titular bishop]]  2010. In addition to Greek, he speaks English and Italian.

==Life==
Stylianos Stantzios was born of Greek parents in 1969 in Esslingen, Germany. After completing his secondary education, Stylianos enrolled in the Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessalonica, Greece. Later, he continued his post graduate education at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, a missionary oriented academic institution. 

He was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]], with the name Gennadios, by [[Metropolitan]] [[Spyridon (Trantellis) of Langada|Spyridon of Langada]] and resided at the Monastery of the [[Holy Trinity]] in Langada for four years. In 1990, Mnk. Gennadios was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]]. In 1996, Dcn. Gennadios was ordained a [[priest]] and raised to the dignity of [[archimandrite]] on the same day by Metr. [[Prokopios (Tsakoumakas) of Filippoi|Prokopios (Tsakoumakas)]] of Philippoi, Neapolis and Thasos (Kavala). Fr. Gennadios served the [[Metropolis of Filippoi, Neapolis and Thasos|Metropolis of Philippoi]] as [[archdeacon]] and private secretary to Metr. Prokopios and as Preacher, and [[parish]] priest of the Cathedral of St. Paul. He also served in other executive positions of the local Church of Philippoi including responsibilities for Youth and Catechetical Schools, Press, and Public Relations of the [[metropolis]].

After twelve years serving in the Metropolis of Philippoi, he was assigned to the Metropolis of Buenos Aires in Argentina where he served in the Secretariat of the Metropolis. Early in 2004, Fr. Gennadios transferred to the [[Church of Alexandria]] under the jurisdiction of Patriarch [[Petros VII (Papapetrou) of Alexandria|Petros VII]] of Alexandria to a position in Port Elizabeth in the [[Archdiocese of the Cape of Good Hope]]. Later he received an assignment in the Patriarchal Registry Office in Alexandria and a subsequent assignment as the temporary [[chancellor]] of the [[Holy Synod]] following the crash in which Patr. Petros and many of his staff were killed on [[September 11]], 2004. After the election of Archbishop [[Theodoros II (Choreftakis) of Alexandria|Theodoros]] as Patriarch, Fr. Gennadios was appointed chancellor of the Holy Synod and Dean of the [[Cathedral]] of the Annunciation in Alexandria. 

On [[November 1]], 2006, Fr. Gennadios was elected Bishop of Nilopolis by the Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]]. He was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] by Patr. Theodoros on [[November 26]] in the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Alexandria. In addition to his duties as bishop, he continued as chancellor of the Holy Synod. In 2010, Bishop Gennadios was tasked with the organization and administration of the [[Archdiocese of Botswana|Diocese of Botswana]], a diocese that was established in October 2010. The [[diocese]] was officially recognized by the [[Botswana]] government in July 2011. In addition to building a [[missionary]] religious presence in the country, Bp. Gennadios directed, as his top priority, the building of the first Orthodox [[cathedral]] in Botswana.

Bp. Gennadios was [[enthronement|enthroned]] as the first Bishop of Botswana on [[June 2]], 2012 by [[Pope]] Theodoros II of Alexandria in the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Gaborone, Botswana. Patr. Theodoros was assisted by [[Archbishop]] [[Makarios (Tillyrides) of Kenya|Makarios]] of Kenya and [[Metropolitan]] [[George (Vladimirou) of Guinea|George]] of Accra.  

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{{succession|
before=&mdash;|
title=Bishop of Nilopolis <br>(titular)|
years=2010 - 2012|
after=&mdash;}}
{{succession|
before=&mdash;|
title=Bishop of Botswana|
years=2012 - Present|
after=&mdash;}}
{{end box}}

==Sources==
*[http://www.patriarchateofalexandria.com/index.php?module=content&cid=004002
Holy Diocese of Botswama]
*[http://www.patriarchateofalexandria.com/index.php?module=news&action=details&id=790   Enthronement Ceremony of His Eminence Gennadios]
*[http://gabzfmnews.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/botswana-to-have-its-first-greek-orthodox-church-bishop/  Botswana to have its first Greek Orthodox Church Bishop]
*[http://world.greekreporter.com/2012/06/01/greek-orthodox-church-bishop-to-be-enthroned-for-first-time-in-botswana/    Greek Orthodox Church Bishop to be Enthroned for First Time in Botswana]
*[http://world.greekreporter.com/2012/03/16/holy-orthodox-diocese-of-botswana-celebrates-two-year-anniversary/    Holy Orthodox Diocese of Botswana Celebrates Two Year Anniversary]

[[Category: Bishops]]
[[Category: Bishops of Botswana]]
[[Category:21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Theological School of Aristotle University of Thessalonica Graduates]]