Biography of Metropolitan Parthenios of Citium on Cyprus
METROPOLITAN PARTHENIUS OF CITIUM and all Cyprus was
born in the town of Beresti in the province of Galati in Romania on
June 29, 1977 (old calendar), the Feastday of the Holy Apostles
Peter and Paul. For this reason at his baptism he received the name
Peter. He was baptized by the ever-memorable Bishop Clement of
Galati, of the Genuine Orthodox Church of Romania. Peter completed
primary school in his own town, but attended high school at the town
called Tecuchi. His parents and grandparents were known for their
struggles for the sake of patristic piety. His spiritual parents
breathed into him the love for the spiritual and the monastic order.
At only 18 years old he entered the Holy Monastery of the Archangels
in the province of Vrancea. He was tonsured to the small schema and
received the name Parthenius. The region of Vrancea, in which the
Monastery of the Archangels is located, is well known for its
several Greek Monasteries and Sketes - metochia (satellite
monasteries) of the Holy Mountain of Athos. For this reason, at the
monastery, he was able to have contact with the Greek and Athonite
monasticism. This was possibly also the reason why he came to love
the Greek language and tried as much as he could to learn it. His
great grandfather and his grandfather, as well as his parents, since
the introduction of the new calendar in Romania, had remained
steadfast Confessors of the Genuine Orthodox Faith, and for this
reason were subjected to several persecutions and imprisonments. His
great grandfather was betrayed to the police, with the result of his
house being raided, his books and icons were confiscated, and he was
imprisoned. But also the priests that Fr. Parthenius, and his
parents and grandparents also, were guided by, were very strict in
their asceticism. We refer not only to the ever-memorable Hieromonk
Gamael, but also to the ever-memorable Hieromonk Menas, known for
his asceticism and miracles, who left an imprint on the personality
of the future Metropolitan Parthenius. Hieromonk Menas had suggested
to Bishop Clement to ordain Parthenius to the deaconate. Bishop
Clement agreed but reposed before this could take place (+1998). He
was therefore ordained to the deaconate, and later to the priesthood
by Bishop Cassian of Iasi on November 16, 1998. Ten years later, on
April 19, 2008, Bishop Gerontius of Vrancea raised him to the rank
of Archimandrite and Chancellor. Archimandrite Parthenius played a
crucial role in the union between the Genuine Orthodox Church of
Romania with the Genuine Orthodox Churches of Greece, Cyprus, Russia
and Africa. Bishops Cassian and Gerontius had sent Archimandrite
Parthenius to Greece twice for the purpose of meeting with
Metropolitan Cerycus and discussing issues regarding the Confession
of Faith and Apostolic Succession. Unofficial dialogue had already
existed between the Churches since a decade earlier but only through
letters, telephone and internet. But it was Archimandrite Parthenius
who initiated the first real life contact by way of actually
arriving in Greece, to discuss the issue of unity in the sacred
struggle face to face. On July 6, 2008 (old calendar), the clergy
and faithful of the Genuine Orthodox Church of Cyprus, after three
years of being without a local shepherd since the repose of
Metropolitan Epiphanius (+2005), unanimously elected the young
Archimandrite Parthenius to be their new hierarch. The petition of
the clergy and faithful of the Genuine Orthodox Church of Cyprus was
received by the Pan-Orthodox Council consisting of Metropolitans
Cerycus, Cassian, Gerontius, Matthew and Seraphim. They approved the
petition and granted its fulfillment, thereby electing Archimandrite
Parthenius as Metropolitan of Citium and all Cyprus. On July 13,
2008 (old calendar), Archimandrite Parthenius was tonsured to the
great schema. On the next day, July 14, he was consecrated to the
episcopacy by Metropolitan Cerycus, assisted by Bishops Matthew and
Gerontius, with the written consent of Bishops Cassian and Seraphim.
The consecration took place in the Cathedral of St. Xenia in
Limasol, Cyprus, in the presence of thousands of laymen from
throughout Cyprus as well as representatives from the federal and
local governments and the press. As the latest ecclesiastical events
show us, Metropolitan Parthenius was foreordained by God to shepherd
the pious flock of Cyprus. His canonical and lawful election,
according to the rules of the charter of the local Autocephalous
Church of Cyprus, and his subsequent consecration, served as an end
to a turbulent period in the history of the Genuine Orthodox Church
of Cyprus, provoked by the immoral, self-elected and self-appointed
false bishop Sebastian with his very few followers, who together
with their evil collaborators, used the immoral and fallen group of
bishops of the Nicholaitans of Greece, to achieve their personal
goals. But their plans have been proven unsuccessful, because they
did not take into account the will of God, who is always attentive
to the heart of his people. The faithful members of the Genuine
Orthodox Church of Cyprus thank the Sister Church of Romania for
setting aside her own needs and offering one of her most honourable
sons, a truly worthy clergyman, to shepherd the Church of Cyprus
which was in such a need of a shepherd. On 15/28 September, 2008
(old calendar), the newly-consecrated Parthenius was enthroned in
the Cathedral of the Holy Three Hierarchs, Troulli, Larnaca, as
Metropolitan of Citium and all Cyprus. Present at the event were
Metropolitan Cerycus of Mesogaea (representing the Genuine Orthodox
Church of Greece) and Bishop Gerontius of Vrancea (representing the
Genuine Orthodox Church of Romania). Several clergy and thousands of
faithful also attended, along with government officials and
representatives from the national press agencies. With his
enthronement, Metropolitan Parthenius of Citium officially assumed
his responsibilities as the lawful and canonical Metropolitan of
Citium and Exarch of all Cyprus, since he was elected according to
the charter of the Autocephalous Genuine Orthodox Church of Cyprus,
by the vote of the clergy and the people.
To PARTHENIUS, the Most All-Sacred & Divinely-Appointed Metropolitan, of the Holy & Sacred Metropolis of Citium, President of Amathus, Neapolis, Limasol & Curium, & Most Honoured Exarch of all Cyprus, MANY YEARS!
To PARTHENIUS, the Most All-Sacred & Divinely-Appointed Metropolitan, of the Holy & Sacred Metropolis of Citium, President of Amathus, Neapolis, Limasol & Curium, & Most Honoured Exarch of all Cyprus, MANY YEARS!