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[[Category:Bishops of Cameroon]]
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==Life==
The future [[patriarch]] was born Nikolaos Choreftakis on the island of Crete in 1954. Nikolaos completed his early education in schools on Crete. Continuing his education, he graduated from the Rizarios Ecclesiastical School in Athens and earned a degree from the Theological Faculty of the Aristotelian University of [[Thessalonica]]. He also studied the history of art, literature, and philosophy in Odessa.
Having taken [[monasticism|monastic]] vows and receiving the name ''Theodoros'', he was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]]. From 1975 to 1985, Dn. Theodoros served as archdeacon and chancellor of the holy Metropolis of Lambis and Sfakion in Crete. Here he developed significant preaching and philanthropic activities, such as at hostels for needy youth. From 1985 to 1990, during the tenure of Patriarchs [[Nicholas VI of Alexandria|Nicholas VI]] and [[Parthenios III of Alexandria|Parthenios]] as Patriarchs of Alexandria, he served as Patriarchal [[Exarch]] in Russia, based in Odessa, Ukraine. There he established the Institution of Hellenic Culture and the Philiki Eteria Museum where 600 children were taught a thorough knowledge of Greek.
In 1990, he was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] [[bishop]] with the title of the formerly distinguished [[Diocese]] of Kyrēnē with the added appointment as representative of Patr. Parthenios in Athens. In this position he always accompanied Patr. Parthenios on his travels throughout Africa and to many international, interfaith, and Theological conferences.
In 1997, he was appointed Patriarchal [[Vicar]] by Patriarch Petros VII, to assist the new patriarch at the outset of his patriarchate. Ten months later Bp. Theodoros was elected [[Metropolitan]] of [[Cameroon]]. As the leader of this [[missionary]] diocese, Metr. Theodoros greatly expanded the missionary activity in the diocese. He encouraged the building of [[church]]es, schools, and hospitals, as well as helping many Africans and Hellenes.
In 2002, Metr. Theodoros was transferred to the holy Metropolis of Zimbabwe, where he established four missionary centers in Harare, a Hellenic Cultural Center that could hold 400 delegates, two large missionary centers in Malawi, with a hospital, technical schools, and nursery schools. Aided by the Greek Parliament he renovated the Hellenic Square (School-Church-Vicarage) in Beira, Mozambique. He founded churches and contributed to the establishment of the Hellenic Communities of Botswana and Angola.
[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of Cameroon]]
[[Category:Bishops of Kyrene]]
[[Category:Bishops of Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]c
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[[Category:Patriarchs of Alexandria]]
