The Church of the Holy Archangels in George held a memorial service for the late Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, His Beatitude Petros VII. May his memory be eternal.
His Beatitude Petros VII (1996-2004) was born Petros Papapetrou in Sichari, Kyrenia District, Cyprus. He assumed the Patriarchate of Alexandria on March 9, 1997, following his election by the Holy Synod. Before his election, His Beatitude served as a deacon and a priest and was consecrated as a bishop in 1983. He had a close rapport with his predecessor, Patriarch Parthenios III of Alexandria. He reigned as Patriarch for seven years.
His tenure was marked by renewed missionary efforts in Kenya, Uganda, Madagascar, Cameroon, and elsewhere across the African continent.
He died along with 16 others (including three bishops of the Church of Alexandria: (Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Carthage, Metropolitan Irenaios of Pelusium, and Bishop Nectarios of Madagascar) when the helicopter carrying them crashed into the Aegean Sea while en route to the monastic enclave of Mount Athos, Greece.
Reference: Petros VII (1996-2004) Official web site of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa