St Mary’s Graduate Appointed Bishop of Olympus

The Holy Metropolis of Rhodes announced on 30th August 2017 that alumnus of St Mary’s University, Twickenham, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Kyrillos Papanthimou was elected unanimously by the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople upon the recommendation of His All Holiness Bartholomew Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch as Assistant Bishop of His Eminence Metropolitan Kyrillos of Rhodes.

Prof Peter Tyler, Professor of Pastoral Theology and Spirituality and Director of St Mary’s Centre for Initiatives in Spirituality and Reconciliation, who taught Bishop Kyrillos during his time at St Mary’s commented, “On behalf of our community of staff and students here at St Mary’s, I would like to congratulate His Grace on his appointment as Bishop of Olympus.

 “We hope the knowledge and experience Bishop Kyrillos gained during his time here in Twickenham will continue to enrich his understanding of faith, and that of the Christian communities he serves.”

Bishop Kyrillos of Olympus was born at Archipolis village in Rhodes in 1980, where he completed his general and secondary education. He studied Theology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens before coming to St Mary’s to study the Masters of Arts in Pastoral Theology, which he passed with distinction.

His Grace Kyrillos elected Bishop of Olympus, was ordained to deaconate on 8th December 2004 and to priesthood on 1st August 2009. He served as Deacon, Archdeacon and Preacher of the Holy Metropolis of Rhodes, as parish priest at St. Nicholas parish of Paradeisi district in Rhodes and as director of the private office of His Eminence Metropolitan Kyrillos, administrating the website of the Holy Metropolis of Rhodes. 

 He will be ordained to Episcopate in Rhodes on Saturday 30th September 2017 at the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Cathedral.