Changes

The V. Rev. Dr. '''Themistocles Adamopoulo''', born in Alexandria and raised in Melbourne, is an [[archimandrite]] serving in NairobiFreetown, Kenya[[Sierra Leone]], within the [[Church of Alexandria|Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa]]. He His work is assistant dean of the Orthodox Patriarchal Ecclesiastical School "Archbishop Makarios III", in mission and is also establishing "Saint Clement of Alexandria"charity, using education as a major philanthropic and educational program in that countrymeans of bringing people out of poverty.

Due to the Adamopoulo's being Greeks from a non-Greek country, they were considered to be Greeks by Anglo-Celtic Australian society, and outsiders within the Greek community. As such, Eleftherius became a labourer, and Helen worked in factories. However, in a few years, Helen was recognised by Melbourne University, becoming a teacher at Presbyterian Ladies College, and Eleftherius was recognised by local industries, becoming an industrial chemist.

===Early life===Themistocles went to high school at Williamstown High School, being gifted in academic areas, and getting a result good enough to win a scholarship to Melbourne University. He began a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1964, and then formed a music group imitating similar to the Beatles and the Rolling Stonesknown as ''The Flies''. This caused a two-year deferment in his university studies while he pursued the music worldindustry, including records and , Top 10 songs and , a fan cluband supporting the Beatles on their Australian tour.

However, he decided that this was not to be a permanent occupation, and returned to university in a Bachelor of Arts course, studying philosophy, political science and history. His readings, and perspectives on human rights, social justice and minority groups, were formed by during this period, and are acknowledged by himself to have affected the way he lives his religion today. At 22, he was became a tutor at Melbourne University.

He did not immediately go to the Greek Orthodox Church of his parents, but first held a belief in Christ while looking for the denomination that could best understand his experience. Through reading the Bible and the life of St [[Francis of Assisi]], Themi began to sell his property, give to the poor, and resign from his tutorship in political science. Speaking to one or two Greek Orthodox priests in Melbourne, he asked about God and was told not to inquire into God. Finding this unsatisfactory, he then went to other churches, finding in the Presbyterian church interesting people willing to discuss God and accommodate his previous experiences, people who accepted and greatly respected him. However, he began to ask why he was born a Greek and baptised Orthodox, and looked again at Orthodoxy.

After this, due to the lack of Orthodox seminaries at the time, he took up studies at a Catholic theological school. He was advised by Archbishop [[Stylianos (Harkianakis) of Australia|Stylianos]], the then-new Greek Orthodox Archbishop of [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia|Australia]], who advised him to study at Corpus Christi College, Melbourne. He then went on to study at [[Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brookline, Massachusetts)|Holy Cross]], Massachusetts, beginning a Masters of Theological Studies and concurrently studying at Harvard Divinity School. After this, he undertook a Master of Theology at Princeton Divinity School, and completed a Ph.D. at Brown University with his thesis entitled ''Endurance, Greek and Early Christian: The Moral Transformation of the Greek Idea of Endurance, From the Homeric Battlefield to the Apostle Paul'', explaining how endurance changed from the Greek philosophical concept of something that one could do on their own, to St Paul's transformation into endurance being something a gift of God in Christ. Fr Themistocles, by this time a [[tonsure]]d [[monk]] usually called 'Br Themi', returned to Australia and, in 1986, was one of the founding lecturers at [[St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College (Sydney, Australia)|St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College]], Sydney, Australia; he was also teaching at Macquarie University and University of Sydney.

After considerable time lecturing, Fr Themistocles, by this time a tonsured monk usually called 'Br Themi', was one of the founding lecturers at [[St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College (Sydney, Australia)|St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College]], Sydney, Australia; he was also teaching at Macquarie University and University of Sydney.However, after some time, he began to wish to personally act out his theology, and due to his being born in Africa he decided to return therein 2000, and also to continue utilising his academic work ability at the seminary ''[[Orthodox Patriarchal Ecclesiastical School of Makarios III|Orthodox Patriarchal Ecclesiastical School]] "Archbishop Macarius III"'' in Nairobi, Kenya. [[ordination|Ordained]] and elevated in Kenya to the rank of Archimandrite, he conducted liturgies and preached in various [[parish]]es in Kenya, but his primary focus is on teaching people in Kenya to earn a living on their own. With the blessing of Archbishop [[Makarios (Tillyrides) of Kenya|Makarios]], Fr Themistocles established the Saint Clement of Alexandria Philanthropic Education Centre. Through the centre, he set up a school for unemployed women to learn tailoring and dressmaking in November 2001, then a computer school for unemployed youth in 2002; in September of that year, he then set up a pre-school and primary school for children in slum areas, giving them free education, food and clothing. In January 2003, the Teachers' College was established. This grew into the ''Saint Clement of Alexandria Orthodox College of Africa'', currently consisting of an education department and a business/information technology department, teaching for minimal cost to break the cycle of depression. Future plans include a nursing and pharmacy school; furthermore, serious negotiations are underway with the University of Thessalonica towards the creation of a Paediatric Medical School within the College. Fr Themistocles envisaged an Orthodox University of Africa.

Ordained and elevated in Kenya to Archimandrite===Sierra Leone===In January 2008, he conducts liturgies and preaches in various parishes in Kenya, but his primary focus is on teaching people in Kenya to earn a living on their own. With with the blessing of Archbishop His Beatitude Patriarch [[Makarios Theodoros II (TillyridesChoreftakis) of KenyaAlexandria|MakariosTheodoros of Alexandria]]and sponsored by the international charity 'Paradise Kids 4 Africa' (PK4A), Fr Themistocles established the Saint Clement of Alexandria Philanthropic Education CentreThemi moved from Kenya to Sierra Leone, where he involved himself in similar activities that he had initiated in Kenya. Through the centreAs of 2009, he set up a school for unemployed women to learn tailoring and dressmaking there are 9 building projects in November 2001progress, then including a computer school for unemployed youth in 2002; in September missionary residence and 3 places of worship (including the Cathedral of that yearSt [[Eleutherios|Eleftherios]]), he then set up a pre-school and primary school as well as providing many feeding programs for children in slum areas, giving them free education, food and clothingthe hungry.

In January 2003, Negotiations with the Teachers College was established. This grew into the ''Saint Clement of Alexandria Orthodox College of Africa''government in March 2008 led to Fr Themi having responsibility for two schools, currently consisting with a total of an education department 3500 students and 90 staff; and a business/information technology departmentin May, grants were received from two Greek missionary societies, teaching for minimal cost to break the cycle [[Orthodox Missionary Fraternity]] and the [[Missionary Alliance of depressionSt. Future plans include a nursing and pharmacy school; furthermore, serious negotiations are underway with Cosmas the University Aetolian]] - one grant to build infrastructure for one of Thessalonica towards the creation schools, and the other to begin construction of a Paediatric Medical School within the Teachers' College. The vision is Work began on the Teachers' College before the end of that month, and construction has begun on housing for an Orthodox University the disabled and victims of Africathe war.

*Doctor of Philosophy (Brown University - dissertation on ). Thesis: "Endurance, Greek and Early Christian: The Moral Transformation of the idea Greek Idea of endurance from Endurance, From the Homeric times Battlefield to the writings of the [[Apostle Paul]]".*Doctor of Education (Monash University)

*Sub-Dean, Orthodox Patriarchal Ecclesiastical School "Archbishop Macarius III", Nairobi, Kenya.

*'''Source''': [http://www.theandros.com/themistocles.html Interview with the Very Rev. Dr. Themistocles Adamopoulo, Apostle to the Poor and Oppressed] by [[User_talk:Ntrakaki|Nick Trakakis]], published by ''Theandros'' (a publication edited by the [[User:MMelchi|Eparch of Nebraska]])*[http://www.orthodox.asn.au St. Clement of Alexandria Philanthropic Educational Projects in Kenya] website (''NB*[http: authorised by the [[Church of Alexandria|Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All //www.pk4a.com Paradise Kids 4 Africa]]'')website, where donations are possible.