The canonization of two great figures of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, our Holy Father, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, Sylvester, and our Venerable and God-fearing Father Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos, was carried out today by the Sacred Synod of the Second-Throne Patriarchate, which is meeting for the second day in Alexandria, under the Presidency of His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa.
Saint Sylvester, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, came from the great island of Crete. During his Patriarchate – 1569 to 1590 – the Church of Alexandria was at its peak. He will be commemorated annually on February 19th.
Saint Sylvester, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, came from the great island of Crete. During his Patriarchate – 1569 to 1590 – the Church of Alexandria was at its peak. He will be commemorated annually on February 19th.
Venerable Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos (1903–1972), originally from Vasilitsi, Messinia, was one of the pioneers of the mission in Africa. He is the founder of the Orthodox Mission in the Congo. Kolwezi, Kasenga, Kananga, Kinshasa have much to say about the new Saint of the Church. For ten years before that, he preached the word of God in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, where he built churches and saved souls. At an old age, he left the comfort of Athens and with faith in God, he set out alone, with shaky health, for the evangelization of our indigenous African brethren. He did this without money, only with faith in God and love for people. As the blessed Metropolitan Nikephoros of Kinshasa (2010-2021) wrote: “By his example, he became the Papaflessas of the Mission.” He will be commemorated annually on December 29th.
For the two new Saints of the Church, relevant presentations were made by Hierarchs of the Throne. The first had as its theme: “The Life and Work of our Holy Father, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria Sylvester”, which was delivered by Metropolitan Makarios of Nairobi. The second had as its theme: “The Life and Missionary Work of our Venerable and God-bearing Father Chrysostomos (Papasarantopoulos)”, and was delivered by Metropolitan Theodosios of Kinshasa.
Also, during the meeting of the Synod, the presentation of the sacred services of the two new Saints took place, which, under the providence of Patriarch Theodore, were composed by Metropolitan Kyrillos of Rhodes.
The Hierarchs of the Second-Throne Patriarchate co-signed, together with the Primate of the Alexandrian Church, the Acts of Canonization of the new Saints.
You can find the services by clicking on the following links:
Service of Saint Sylvester, Patriarch of Alexandria
Supplicatory Canon of Saint Sylvester, Patriarch of Alexandria
Service of Venerable Chrysostomos, Missionary of Africa
For the two new Saints of the Church, relevant presentations were made by Hierarchs of the Throne. The first had as its theme: “The Life and Work of our Holy Father, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria Sylvester”, which was delivered by Metropolitan Makarios of Nairobi. The second had as its theme: “The Life and Missionary Work of our Venerable and God-bearing Father Chrysostomos (Papasarantopoulos)”, and was delivered by Metropolitan Theodosios of Kinshasa.
Also, during the meeting of the Synod, the presentation of the sacred services of the two new Saints took place, which, under the providence of Patriarch Theodore, were composed by Metropolitan Kyrillos of Rhodes.
The Hierarchs of the Second-Throne Patriarchate co-signed, together with the Primate of the Alexandrian Church, the Acts of Canonization of the new Saints.
You can find the services by clicking on the following links:
Service of Saint Sylvester, Patriarch of Alexandria
Supplicatory Canon of Saint Sylvester, Patriarch of Alexandria
Service of Venerable Chrysostomos, Missionary of Africa
Brief Biography of Father Chrysostomos
Father Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos (1903-1972) was a hieromonk from Vasilitsi, Messinia.
At a young age he became a monk and then a priest.
He served as a rector in Messinia, Edessa and Thessaloniki.
He also served as abbot at the Monastery of Faneromeni, Salamis and the Monastery of Gardiki.
He studied theology and learned French in old age.
At the age of 57 he began missionary work in Africa. He began in Uganda and spread the mission to Kenya, Tanzania and the Congo.
He reposed on December 29, 1972 from a nosebleed.
He was the second Greek missionary to Africa, after the pioneering Asia Minor archimandrite Nikodemos Sarikas (1876-1941).
Brief Biography of Patriarch Sylvester of Alexandria
Sylvester was Patriarch of Alexandria from 1565/1569 and 1590.
He was originally from Crete and was elected Patriarch of Alexandria sometime between 1565 and 1569. During his Patriarchate, the situation of the Church and Christians in Egypt was difficult.
After the defeat of the Turkish fleet at Nafpaktos by the allied forces of Venice, Spain and Italy in 1571, anti-Christian pogroms broke out in Egypt.
The Roman Catholic Church intensified its proselytizing activity, disseminating various texts, establishing Catholic schools, and attempting to persuade the Orthodox to accept the Gregorian calendar, which the Patriarch of Constantinople Jeremiah II and Sylvester as Patriarch of Alexandria had categorically rejected.
Under these circumstances, Sylvester recruited a young scholar from Crete, Meletios Pegas, to serve in the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
He had studied at the University of Padua and met him in 1574 in Jerusalem.
Sylvester ordained him deacon and presbyter and appointed him his successor on the throne of Alexandria.
During his Patriarchate, two Russian embassies visited Egypt, providing donations to the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
