On
November 30, 1999, after nearly twenty years of service in Greece,
South Africa, and Egypt, His Grace Panteleimon was elected as
the first Bishop of Ghana by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate
of Alexandria and All Africa. His Grace currently oversees ten
countries in Western Africa through the Orthodox Diocese of
Ghana.
Bishop
Panteleimon was born on the island of Kalymnos in Greece on
May 14, 1955 with the name George Lampadarios. Three years later,
he immigrated to the United States and became an American citizen
in 1966. His Grace returned to Greece where he completed high
school and later entered the Holy Monastery of St. Panteleimon
in Kalymnos. At the monastery, he was ordained deacon in 1980
and elevated to the priesthood in 1983. Over the span of 15
years, His Grace served as a missionary priest in South Africa,
a religion instructor in Greece, the General Vicar of the Archdiocese
of Good Hope, and the Director of the Patriarchal Press Office
in Alexandria, Egypt. Two and a half years later he was elected
Bishop of Ghana. His Grace arrived in Ghana on January 18, 2000.
His
Grace’s first visit as Bishop was to the village of Larteh.
Bishop Panteleimon described the journey -- which consisted
of driving through thick green forests by small, poorly constructed
houses and markets on roadways full of people selling fruits,
ice water, nuts and fried bananas -- as being “something
else.” At Larteh, His Grace spoke to the people of the
village with love in a small beautiful church too poor to replace
a broken bell but enriched with beautiful Byzantine icons, a
simplicity in design, and faithful Orthodox Christians.
Later
that week, His Grace Panteleimon celebrated the Divine Liturgy
in Abeka Lapaz (Accra). then presided over the Annual Spiritual
Revival of the parishes of the Diocese of Ghana. Despite the
hot weather and high humidity, many priests attended along with
their parishioners. Most had to travel for three to five hours
in order to reach the event. All wanted to be present for the
national religious feast day, the Day of Orthodoxy for Ghana.
During the festivities, His Grace addressed all the faithful
who attended:
