With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco is pleased to welcome His Grace Bishop Neofitos, the ruling bishop of the Diocese of Nyeri and Mount Kenya. Born in 1970 in the village of Kesengei, in the Nandi district of Kenya, His Grace holds a degree from the “Archbishop Makarios III” Patriarchal Academy in Kenya. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on September 13, 1998, and to the Holy Priesthood two weeks later, on September 27, 1998, by then-Metropolitan Seraphim of Kenya, now of Zimbabwe and Angola.
“The work of His Grace Bishop Neofitos is truly life-changing, for he is building up the Body of Christ in an area that is in desperate need, both spiritually and physically. With the visit of His Grace to our Metropolis during Great Lent, this is a beautiful opportunity to support his ministry and show our love and encouragement for him and his faithful flock,” stated His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco.
Bishop Neofitos served in parishes in Nairobi and at the Patriarchal Academy there as Deputy Principal. On February 27, 2005, His Eminence Makarios of Kenya consecrated him as Archimandrite. He also was awarded a Master of Theological Studies and a Master of Theology from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. In 2007 he was tonsured a monk at the Holy Monastery of the Transfiguration in Veroia. He is a Doctoral candidate in Pastoral Theology, with a scholarship from the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki.
On November 26, 2014, he was elected by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria as Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Nitria. In 2015, His Grace was unanimously elected as the first bishop of the Diocese of Nyeri and Mount Kenya. The Diocese spans some 50,250 square miles, and is comprised of 60 parishes that are served by 53 priests.
By the Grace of God and with the prayerful support of Orthodox Christians around the world, the Diocese has:
- Renovated 10 churches
- Built 11 semi-permanent churches
- Built 2 permanent churches
- Provided motorcycles for 53 clergy
- Gifted new vestments to some priests
- Built and opened the Diocese Centre in 2018
- Built a hall to accommodate 100 people
- Procured the Diocesan 11-passenger van
- Procured Diocesan five-acre parcel of land for maize farming
- Sponsored many students from primary, secondary and tertiary education levels
Now, the Diocese of Nyeri and Mount Kenya Saint asks for your prayers and seeks your assistance to build Saint Anthony Orthodox Christian Secondary School.
Schedule of Parish Visits by His Grace Bishop Neofitos – Great Lent 2019
- Saturday, March 16 – Saint Basil Church, Stockton (Saturday of Souls)
- Sunday, March 17 – Saint Anna Church, Roseville (Liturgy)
- Wednesday, March 20 – Nativity of Christ Church, Novato (Pre-Sanctified Liturgy)
- Sunday, March 24 – Annunciation Church, Modesto (Liturgy & Great Vespers)
- Monday, March 25 – Annunciation Church, Sacramento (Liturgy for Feast Day) – Saint Anna Church (Compline)
- Wednesday, March 27 – Saint Basil Church, San Jose (Pre-Sanctified Liturgy)
- Friday, March 29 – Prophet Elias Church, Santa Cruz (Salutations)
- Saturday, March 30 – Holy Cross Church, (Vespers)
- Sunday, March 31 – Holy Cross Church, Belmont (Liturgy)
- Monday, April 1 – Saint Nicholas Church, San Jose (Compline)