The new Bishop’s return to his birthplace after his ordination
At midday on Sunday 7 December 2025, two days after his episcopal ordination in Alexandria, His Grace Bishop Nephon of Majunga and North Madagascar returned to his birthplace, Chania in Crete, where he received an especially warm and moving welcome.
Shortly after two in the afternoon, relatives, friends, fellow villagers and people who had known him in earlier years of his life and service gathered at Chania International Airport “Ioannis Daskalogiannis” to welcome him and to wish him well in his new episcopal mission.
His Grace was accompanied by relatives and spiritual children who had travelled with him to Alexandria and had attended his ordination by His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa.
Present at the welcome were the Mayor of Platanias, Mr Ioannis Malandrakis, Regional Councillor of Crete Mrs Sofia Malandraki-Krasoudaki, deputy mayors and members of the Municipal Council, as well as many residents of Gerani and the wider Platanias area.
A particularly beautiful sight was offered by members of the traditional association “To Rodo” who, dressed in traditional Cretan costumes, presented flowers to the new Bishop. In an atmosphere of joy and emotion the acclamations “Axios! Axios! Axios!” rang out, with which those present expressed their love for him.
The welcome had a very personal and family character. The people at the airport were not only welcoming a new hierarch of the Orthodox Church, but also one of their own, who had grown up among them and was bound up with the daily life of the area through his many years in the Hellenic Police, Local Government and later the priestly ministry.
Visibly moved, His Grace thanked all who had come and spoke with gratitude of the people who had supported him at different times in his life. He also remembered the late Metropolitan Damaskinos of Kydonia and Apokoronas, the clergy of the local Church and the faithful of the parishes in which he had served.
One of his most moving remarks concerned his late parents. As he told those present, his first concern on returning to his homeland was to visit their graves and to celebrate a Trisagion, as an expression of love and gratitude for all they had given him during their lives.
His Grace’s return to Chania, immediately after his ordination, was an occasion to meet people connected with his personal and spiritual journey. The spontaneous expressions of love and heartfelt wishes became a beautiful memory before he took up his new pastoral responsibilities in Africa.
That day joined in a special way the new Bishop’s homeland with distant Madagascar. From Crete, the place of his childhood and first steps in life, His Grace Bishop Nephon is now called to offer his strength to the people of North Madagascar, carrying with him the love, wishes and prayers of the people of his homeland.
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RELATED PUBLICATIONS AND SOURCES
- Chaniotika Nea – The Bishop’s arrival (photos and video)
- Parakritika – A moving welcome from his fellow villagers
- Kriti24 – Bishop Nephon returned to Chania (photos)
