(Cathedral Church of the Transfiguration of Christ, Sunday, April 21, 2024)

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.” (John 10:14-17)

With these sacred and salvific words of the Evangelist John:

Your Eminence, Metropolitan of Aksum Petros, esteemed Representative of His Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros II;

Your Eminence, Metropolitan of Constantia and President of Amohostos, Vasilios;

Honored and distinguished guests, esteemed representatives of the Ghanaian Churches and Christian confessions, representatives of the political authorities;

My beloved fathers and brothers in Christ;

My faithful children, the cherished members of our Holy Orthodox Church;

With these words, our Lord Jesus Christ prepares His disciples before His agonizing prayer in Gethsemane, before the ultimate sacrifice through which He grants salvation to all humanity—men and women, free and enslaved, those of every nation and race. A sacrifice that was destined to transform the world, illuminating it with the radiance of divine love and self-offering.

Throughout the sacred narratives of the four Gospels, we perceive both the divine and human nature of Christ. We witness His sacred trembling before the fulfillment of His mission, the salvation of humankind, and the ineffable grace He extends, calling us to become partakers of His divine nature. He, the Only-Begotten Son of God, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, fully human and at the same time perfect God, omnipotent and eternal.

If Christ Himself, in His human nature, felt the weight of this divine mission, how much more do I, your unworthy servant, tremble before the immense responsibility entrusted to me. Today, I stand before you, not by my own merits, but by the will of the Holy Synod of our Patriarchate, under the wise and fatherly guidance of our Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II, who has entrusted me with the pastoral care of this Holy Metropolis of Accra. I am profoundly aware of the difficulties that lie ahead, of the trials that our Orthodox flock faces in this blessed but challenged land. Yet, I place my trust in the inexhaustible grace of God, the very grace that strengthened our Lord in Gethsemane, that upheld the Holy Martyrs and Confessors throughout the centuries, and that will now uphold me in this sacred ministry.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, I entreat you: Pray for me. Do not abandon me, as the disciples fell into slumber during the Lord’s agony. The fulfillment of this mission requires, above all, the grace of God, but it also necessitates the support of the faithful. The Holy Gospel commands us with the ultimate precept: “These things I command you, that you love one another.” (John 15:17)

I shall not weary you with lengthy discourses. Instead, I wish to open my heart to you—not with promises and programs, nor with theoretical expositions on the episcopal office—but with a sincere confession of my soul, as one who now embarks on this Cross-bearing journey of proclaiming the Gospel, bringing the message of Christ’s hope to the young, and serving the suffering and neglected in the vast vineyard of Africa.

My deepest conviction is that true leadership is not expressed in words but through deeds. By the grace of God, I commit myself to labor with you and for you, step by step, with prudence and discernment, alongside our venerable clergy and all the faithful of this God-preserved Metropolis. However, before I proceed further, I must first express my profound gratitude to all those who honor us with their presence today.

First and foremost, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Primate of the ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria, our tireless missionary and preacher of the Gospel to all nations, our Patriarch Theodoros II. It is at his call that I stand before you today. We do not say “no” to our Patriarch, for his call is the voice of the Church, the voice of Christ Himself, summoning us to service in His vineyard.

I extend my gratitude to my brother Hierarchs who have come from distant lands—Africa, Cyprus, and beyond—to bless this new beginning with their presence. I beseech them to remember me in their holy prayers, for I am keenly aware of my own unworthiness.

I express my sincere appreciation to His Excellency, the President of Ghana, and to the esteemed members of the Government, assuring them of my readiness to work in harmony for the welfare of this Nation. The challenges are great, but only in unity can we bring solutions and relief to the struggles of our people.

Beloved brethren, allow me to return to the fundamental principle that should govern our every action—love. Love is the very cornerstone of the Church’s life, the revolutionary force of Christianity in a world riddled with falsehood, hatred, violence, and division. Love does not promise worldly justice, but it offers the supreme gift: an unbroken communion with God and the certainty that Christ is truly present in every human being. This is the new commandment of Christ: “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34)

As your Shepherd, my first and foremost duty is to offer, to serve, and to embrace every suffering soul. From this day forward, the doors of my office, but above all, the doors of my heart, remain open to all! The Holy Eucharistic Table is prepared for everyone—no one is excluded! Let us journey together, hand in hand, sharing in the joy and unity that the Church offers.

The Church is not an exclusive club for a privileged few—it is the embrace of Divine Love for all people. Let us put aside past grievances, forgive one another, and move forward in love toward the future, which is Christ Himself. As the Apostle Paul proclaims: “Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17)

In this sacred mission, I turn especially to you, my beloved clergy. You are the voice, the hands, and the feet of your Bishop. I implore you to make the love of Christ the central axis of your ministry. In every parish, in every Eucharistic community, let us seek out the afflicted, the sorrowful, and the forsaken, and extend to them the healing balm of Christ’s love. Without you, my spiritual fathers, I cannot fulfill this mission. Together, we shall labor for the salvation of souls, transforming our communities into living witnesses of the Gospel.

I also call upon the Orthodox Youth—our future—to awaken their love for the Church, to be vigilant in faith, and to take upon themselves the sacred responsibility of ensuring the continuity of Orthodoxy in this land.

With deep reverence, I express my gratitude to my predecessors, the Metropolitans who served before me, especially Metropolitan Petros of Aksum, whose noble and loving spirit I hold in the highest esteem.

Beloved faithful, without your support, no ministry can truly bear fruit. Therefore, I turn to you, my spiritual children, and I say with all my heart: I have come to be with you. To love you, and to be loved by you. To serve you and to offer you the boundless grace of God.

Let us walk together in Christ, following the path of sacrificial love. In this land of Ghana, the Ivory Coast, and Mali, my only ambition is to minister with the love of Christ, who laid down His life for His sheep.

May the Most Holy Theotokos, Saint Nicholas, and Saint Dionysios, my patron, intercede for me, that I may complete this sacred mission not for my own sake, but for the glory of Christ’s Holy Church and the salvation of His people.

May the Lord bless our Holy Orthodox Church!
May the Lord bless our beloved country, Ghana!
May the Lord bless our Communities!
May the Lord bless you all!

Amen.