The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco is pleased to welcome His Grace Bishop Neofitos of Nyeri and Mount Kenya who is visiting several parishes in the coming days.
His Grace Bishop Neofitos was born in 1970 in the Nandi district of Kenya. He holds degrees from the Archbishop Makarios III Patriarchal Academy and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. He is presently a doctoral candidate in Pastoral Theology from the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki. He was ordained to the Diaconate and Priesthood in 1998 by then Metropolitan Seraphim of Kenya, now of Zimbabwe and Angola.
“I have known Bishop Neofitos since his time as a student at Holy Cross. He was an inspiring young seminarian with many promising talents and expectations for his future work in the Vineyard of Christ’s Church,” stated His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos. “It is a blessing for our faithful to have the opportunity to learn about his God-pleasing work and the growth of Orthodoxy in Kenya.”
The ministry of His Grace Bishop Neofitos is especially inspiring. In the past three years he has constructed a diocese center from scratch, refurbished churches and built new ones. He provided all of his clergy with motorcycles for transportation to and from their parishes and for emergency use by residents of their villages. Bishop Neofitos purchased, planted and harvested six acres of farmland to feed students at two parochial schools, and prepared three seminarians for ordination. Now, he labors to provide each of his 55 clergy with a stipend of $100 a month as they are not funded by their parishes. His Grace also supports his clergy families by mentoring and inspiring diocese presvyteres. He also initiated stewardship programs in his over 60 parishes. His efforts have also resulted in the funding and building of a high school, a medical center, and a small monastic center.
Schedule of Bishop Neofitos of Nyeri and Mount Kenya
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Saint Anna Greek Orthodox Church – Roseville, CA
5:00 p.m. Great Vespers
Parish Potluck to follow
Sunday, November 11, 2018
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church – Sacramento, CA
8:30 a.m. Orthros
10:00 a.m. Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Saint Basil Greek Orthodox Church – San Jose, CA
6:30 p.m. Compline Service
7:00 p.m. Presentation – Missionary Work in Kenya
Thursday, November 15, 2018
Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church – Santa Cruz, CA
6:00 p.m. Great Vespers
7:00 p.m. Dinner and Presentation – Missionary Work in Kenya
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church – Belmont, CA
8:45 a.m. Orthros
10:00 a.m. Hierarchical Divine Liturgy