This weekend, in addition to the recital we have planned for Saturday evening after Vespers, we are blessed to host His Eminence Metropolitan Neofitos of the Orthodox Diocese of Eldoret and Northern Kenya. His Eminence will visit our region (California and Arizona) from October through mid-November. It is such a blessing to welcome him back to the region, learn about his work, and partner with him again for the growth of the Church in Kenya.
Below is information about His Eminence, along with a few photos. I’ve also attached a write-up on projects within the Metropolis that need our support.
On behalf of His Eminence and the faithful of Eldoret and Northern Kenya, thank you for your prayers and consideration.
About His Eminence
His Eminence Metropolitan Neofitos was born in 1972 in the village of Kesengei, Nandi County, Kenya. He is the second Kenyan Bishop elected by the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa in 2014. His Eminence Archbishop Seraphim ordained him a Deacon on September 13, 1998, and a Priest on September 27, 1998, and is now the Metropolitan of Zimbabwe and Angola. On February 27, 2003, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios elevated him to Archimandrite.
He attended Archbishop Makarios III Patriarchal Seminary in Nairobi and graduated in 1999. In 2001, he secured a scholarship to study in the United States at Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology in Boston, Massachusetts, where he graduated with a Master of Theological Studies in 2004. He also secured a scholarship to pursue a master's in theology at the same school, where he wrote a thesis titled The History of the African Orthodox Church of Kenya; The Problem of Identity in Mission and Evangelism. He graduated in 2005.
After graduation, he was assigned as the Proistamenos (Priest in charge) at the Church of the Holy Annunciation, a Greek Orthodox Church in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, where he served briefly. His Grace returned to Kenya in 2006 at the request of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Kenya, after securing a scholarship to pursue a doctoral program at the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki. In Thessaloniki, he studied Greek while staying at the Monastery of Vlatadon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate under the spiritual guidance of the late Metropolitan Panteleimon of Tirilois and Serentiu, the monastery's abbot. In 2007, when His Eminence was recalled home before he finished his studies by His Eminence Metropolitan Makarios of Nairobi, he enrolled at the Kenya Institute of Professional Counseling (KIPC) in Nairobi to pursue a Higher Diploma in Counseling Psychology, which he completed in 2013. He continued in counseling psychology and later graduated with a bachelor’s degree in counseling psychology from Kenya Methodist University.
On 26th November 2014, at the proposal of His Beatitude Theodoros II, the Holy Synod elected him Auxiliary Bishop of Nitria to assist Archbishop Makarios of Kenya. The late Bishop George Gathuna, the first Kenyan Bishop elected by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa, had occupied the seat of Bishop of Nitria. His consecration was performed by His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, together with other hierarchs, on 21st December 2014 at the Patriarchal Church of St. Savvas the Sanctified in Alexandria, Egypt.
On November 24, 2015, His Beatitude Theodoros II again proposed him, and the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria elected him Bishop of the newly established Diocese of Nyeri and Mount Kenya. He was enthroned in May 2016. He served successfully for six and a half years.
On 24th January, 2022, He was appointed by His Beatitude Theodoros II, as the Locum Tenens (Caretaker) of the Orthodox Diocese of Eldoret and Northern Kenya, now a Metropolis.
On November 29, 2022, His Beatitude Theodoros II again proposed him, and the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria elected him Bishop of the Orthodox Diocese of Eldoret and Northern Kenya.
Since his ordination as a Bishop in 2014, Metropolitan Neofitos has been actively involved in mission work and transformative ministry at the Metropolis and throughout the church of Kenya. He has established various institutions and administrative and organizational structures to help the Church of Kenya proclaim the gospel to all. He is a strong advocate for education and peace, and a defender of human rights and justice for all.
