- His Eminence Daniel (Biazis), Archbishop-Metropolitan of Accra, Ivory Coast and Mali
- Protopresbyter Ireneaus Opokou Ayeh
- Professor Ilias Giarennis
- Associate Professor Dr. Christos Karydis
- Emerita Professor Dr. Dimitra Koukoura
- Associate Professor Dr. Dr. Vasiliki Mavroska
- Archimandrite Edessios Mukeke
- Dr. Theodora Papadopoulou-Chamouza
- Professor Dr. Athanasios Papathanasiou
- Dr. Maria Pazarski
- Professor Protopresbyter Dr. Vasileios Thermos
- Very Rev. Presbyter Prodromos Kanku Tshiya
- Maria Filopoulou, MSc
His Eminence Daniel (Biazis)
Metropolitan of Accra, Most Honorable and Exarch of West Africa
Chairman
He was born in Zakynthos, Greece. He holds a Degree from the Technical Vocational School of Zakynthos, Department of Economics and Management, Department of Hotel Βusinesses (1997). After his school education, he attended courses at the School of Accountants, at the Higher Educational Institution of Messolonghi town (1998). After, he studied at the Higher Ecclesiastical School in Ioannina town (2004) and then at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Faculty of Theology, from where he received the Degree in Pastoral and Social Theology (2010). He holds a Certificate of Education in the subject “Addictions Counseling”, from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (2011), also a Master Degree in Social Theology and Christian Culture (Th.M.), in the Faculty of Humanities from the Hellenic Open University (2023).
He served as a Missionary in the Holy Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa in its Provinces of Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Malawi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, and as Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Zambia and Malawi (2016), in Egypt, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Eritrea.
Proposed by His Beatitude and by canonical votes of the Holy Synod, he was elected on November 26, 2018, as Metropolitan of Aksum in Ethiopia. He was ordained Bishop by His Beatitude, at the Holy Monastery of Saint Savva of Alexandria, on December 5, 2018 and enthroned by His Beatitude on March 2, 2019, at the Cathedral of Saint Frumentios, Addis Ababa.
On February 15, 2024, he was elected as Metropolitan-Archbishop of Accra in Ghana.
His enthroned took place on April 21, 2024 at the Holy Transfiguration of Christ Cathedral in Accra. The Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Accra in Ghana, under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa in Egypt, includes in its spiritual jurisdiction the countries of Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali.
Email: archbishop.accra@gmail.com
Assoc. Professor Dr. Christos Karydis
Vice-Chairman
Dr. Christos Karydis is an Associate Professor at the Ionian University- Department of Environment, Greece. Head of the Department of Environment (2023- 2026). Director of the MSc 'Preservation & Management of Cultural Heritage' at the Ionian University (2024-today). Director of the School of Iconography 'Fotis Kontoglou' established by the Holy Metropolis of Monemvasia & Sparta (2017- today). He is also teaching several postgraduate courses mainly at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Academic responsible and co-author for four (4) e-learning programs at the University of Athens. He completed his PostDoc in preventive conservation and history of ecclesiastical textiles with the collaboration of the Ormylia Diagnostic Art Centre and the Getty Institute (Los Angeles). He was conferred with the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the University of Lincoln, UK (Funded by the Holy Synod of Greek Church). He received his Master of Arts in Preventive Conservation from University of Northumbria and a Master of Art in the Orthodox Theology from the Greek Open University. After his first degree in Conservation from De Montfort University, UK he trained in textile conservation at the Textile Conservation Centre- University of Southampton, UK (one year, funded by the A.G Leventis Foundation). Before studying conservation, he trained as an icon painter in Greece. He has been working in Churches, sites, museums and monasteries at Mount Athos, Jerusalem, Constantinople, Colombia, Eritrea, Iraq, Malaysia, Spain, UK and Greece. He has established and organize more than four (4) full conservation labs in Greece, Constantinople, Jerusalem and Mount Athos.
Email: c.karydis@ionio.gr
Assoc. Professor Dr. Dr. Vasiliki Mavroska
Director of Studies
Dr. Dr. Vasiliki Mavroska is an Associate Professor of Dogmatics in the Ecclesiastical Academy of Athens, Greece. She holds a Ph.D. of Theology at the Department of Pastoral and Social Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, as well as a second Ph.D. of Philosophy at the Institute of Art History of the Philosophical Faculty of the Goethe Universität of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Her Master´s Degree is on the field of Christian Archaeology and Art. She has received two Post Docs, one under the IKY Scholarship and the second one under the AUTh Scholarship. She speaks English and German, and partially French. She writes articles and she is active in scientific events in Greece and abroad. She is married with Spyros Spyropoulos and a mother of two young children.
Email: vasiliki.mavroska@gmail.com
Professor Ilias Giarennis
Member of the School Board
Ilias Giarenis was born in Athens. He is a Byzantinist, Professor of Byzantine Intellectual History at Ionian University. He is also Member of the Board of Governance of the University.
He has written on the empire of Nicaea, on the empire of Trebizond, on the fragmented Byzantine World after 1204, on the Holy Face, and on the Byzantine author and clergyman Nikolaos Mesarites. His publications include: Establishment and Consolidation of the empire of Nicaea (Athens 2008); The Byzantine Scholar Nikolaos Mesarites: Texts and Studies (Athens 2022). He has co-edited the collective the volumes: Bessarion from Trebizond of Pontos. A Scholar of the Byzantine and Western Renaissance in the 15th Century (Thessaloniki 2017), and Scholars and Scholarship in Byzantium (Thessaloniki 2019). He has also co-edited the honorary volume Books and Learning in the Byzantine World. Festschrift in Honour of Costas N. Constantinides (Berlin-Boston 2021).
He has taken part in many International Congresses, Colloquia and Conferences in Greece, Great Britain, Cyprus, Italy, Spain, Croatia and Hungary. His current research interests include Byzantine scholarship and education, the world of manuscripts in Byzantium, and the reception of Byzantium in modern and contemporary Greece.
Email: yarenis@ionio.gr
Emer. Professor Dr. Dimitra Koukoura
Emerita Prof. Dr Dimitra Koukoura was the first woman to be elected professor in the Department of Theology of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where she taught (1993-2020) Homiletics, Orthodox Witness, and Communication. She studied Classics, Linguistics and Byzantine History at Aristotle University (AuTh) and Sorbonne- Paris, and Theology at AuTh and the Catholic Institute of Paris (Patristics, Liturgics). She is the author of books and articles on the evolution of preaching from the first to the second millennium, the effects of rhetorics Christian homily, Orthodox witness in ecumenical dialogues, the need for evangelization in former Christian societies, and the role of women in the Orthodox Church. She has been involved in the ecumenical movement since 1986, representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate under various capacities in various meetings, consultations, conferences, in 5 Assemblies (1991-2022-WCC); as a member of the Commission of Faith and Order, the Central Committee, and the Commission on Churches in Dialogue of the CEC. Additionally for a long time, she represented WCC at the Global Christian Forum. She is currently an academic advisor at "LOGOS" University College - Tirana of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania.
Εmail: dimkou@theo.auth.gr
Professor Dr. Athanasios N. Papathanasiou
Dr. Athanasios N. Papathanasiou, born in 1959, is Associate Professor of Missiology, Intercultural Christian Witness and Dialogue, at the Supreme Ecclesiastical Academy of Athens, Greece. He also teaches at the post-graduate Theological Program of the Hellenic Open University. He has worked on Church catechesis and religious instruction. He is the editor of the Greek theological quarterly “Synaxis”, and member of The European Society for Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies. His research focuses on Missiology, Crosscultural Studies and Political Theology. He obtained first-hand experience in short-term missions in Kenya (1995), Nigeria (2000) and Tanzania (2004), and has been a member of the “Mission Work and Evangelization Committee” of the Metropolis of Nigeria. He studied several parameters of the sub-Saharan reality and cultures and published numerous books and papers in Greek.
Email: ath.n.pap@gmail.com
Professor Rev. Dr. Vasileios Thermos
Rev. Dr. Fr. Vasileios Thermos is a priest of the Church of Greece, a practicing psychiatrist, and a professor of pastoral theology and psychology at the University Ecclesiastical Academy in Athens. He studied medicine and Orthodox theology at the University of Athens, where he also earned his doctorate. Since 1990, Fr. Vasileios has practiced psychiatry and psychotherapy for children and adolescents in Athens. He served as a visiting scholar at Harvard University, Boston College, Boston University, and Andover Newton during 1996-1997. A prolific author, Fr. Vasileios has written numerous books and articles, and he frequently conducts spiritually enriching and clinically informed programs and retreats in Greece, the United States, Albania, and Cyprus. His work integrates his deep theological knowledge with psychoanalytic thought, offering unique insights into the intersection of theology and psychology.
Email: thermosv@otenet.gr
Dr. Maria Pazarski
Dr. Maria Pazarski she holds a degree in Theology from the Faculty of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (1991, with excellence). She completed her postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She also studied at the School of Catholic Theology at the University of Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster in Germany and at the Evangelical Faculty of Theology at the University of Hamburg. She holds a Master's degree in Biblical Literature and Religious Studies from the Faculty of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (1999, with excellence) and a PhD in Theology from the Department of Theology of the Faculty of Theology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki after a PhD with specialization in "Old Testament" (2006, with excellence).
During her work from 1999 to 2022 in Secondary Education, she taught as a Theological Teacher in Secondary Schools, served as Director in a high school, and taught at the Ecclesiastical Academy of Athens. In addition, she participated in Education and Lifelong Learning Programmes as an Evaluator of Educational Programmes, Evaluator of Educational Materials, and Trainer in the New Curricula for Religious Studies. She implemented interdisciplinary teaching, implemented experiential workshops, and “open classroom” activities on racism, anti-Semitism, the Jewish Holocaust, school bullying, and other topics. She received training in Modern Pedagogy and other subjects. She participated with exemplary teaching and as a mentor in the Teaching and Internship Program for undergraduate students of Theology at the National Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Since the year 2022, she continues to teach at the Ecclesiastical Academy of Athens as a Special Teaching Staff member with the subject ‘Old Testament’. She participates in lectures in the programme of the Popular University of the Society of Friends of the People. She participates by presenting and attending International Biblical Theological Conferences, Scientific Meetings, Seminars, and Workshops. She speaks German (C1) and English (Β2), has attended courses in Modern Hebrew, Hittite Language, Greek Palaeography, etc. Her published writings include articles on the Old Testament in International Scientific Journals, original scientific articles in volumes of the Great Orthodox Christian Encyclopedia, a monograph on issues of the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament, an interpretive commentary work in the book Ecclesiastes (in collaboration with the Emeritus Professor of Old Testament, Dimitris Kaimakis), book reviews, and other writings. She has prepared commentaries on the book of Ecclesiastes and the Proverbs of the Old Testament as part of the project of publishing an annotated Bible by the Hellenic Bible Society. She is registered in the Register of Instructors of the Hellenic Open University, a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, and a research associate of the Hellenic Bible Society.
Email:marypaz_drlehrerin@yahoo.gr
Dr. Theodora Papadopoulou-Chamouza
Dr. Theodora Papadopoulou-Chamouza is a psychologist and neurolinguist, with private offices in Kifissia and Galatsi, Attica, offering specialized services in mental health, neurolinguistic disorders and special education. She holds a PhD from the Department of Psychology of the New Bulgarian University, where she also obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and completed her Master's Degree in "Speech Pathology and Neurolinguistics". She also holds Master's degrees in "Special Education" from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and in "Social Psychology" from the University of Zurich.
With extensive academic experience, Dr. Papadopoulou has taught in psychology, special education and linguistics programs at Aegean College, Deree - The American College of Greece and the College of Humanities "ICPS". She has also been a professor of undergraduate and graduate psychology at the University of Greenwich, the University of Bolton and Pegaso International in Malta. She served as Academic Director of Programs at New York College. Dr. Papadopoulou is an active member of the Association of Hellenic Psychologists (A.E.P.S.), the American Psychological Association (APA) and the International Society For Interpersonal Acceptance - Rejection (ISIPAR). She is the author of the book "The Bride Who Didn't Laugh" and has participated in numerous seminars and conferences, with published papers in Greece and abroad, thus maintaining continuous education and training in her field.
Email:theodora.papadopoulou@gmail.com
Archimandrite Aidessios Mukeke
Archimandrite Aidesios (Jean Mukeke Mabedi) is a Hieromonk who is serving at the Holy Orthodox Archdiocese of Accra, committed to spiritual growth and effective communication. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he brings a passion for education and youth development to his ministry.
He completed his primary and secondary education in the D.R. Congo and holds a Degree in English and African Culture from the “Kananga Pedagogical University UPKAN”. He studied Orthodox Theology at the Institute of “Apostle Paul” in Belgium.
Archimandrite Aidesios was tonsured as a monk and ordained as a Deacon in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia by H.E Daniel Archbishop of Aksum, where he taught French Language at the “Greek International School”, of the Greek Community of Addis Abeba. He was ordained a Priest in Zakynthos, Greece, and served as the Parish Priest of Saint Frumentius Orthodox Cathedral in Ethiopia.
Currently, he serves as the Youth Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Accra, Côte d'Ivoire, and Mali, and as the Director of the Media and Communication Office of the Archdiocese of Accra.
Email: mukekejean12@gmail.com
Protopresbyter Fr. Irenaeus (Opoku Ayeh Daniel) was born in Larteh Akuapem in 1974 where he completed his schooling. He is a graduate of the University of Ghana, Legon with Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Banking and Finance option) in 2008 - 2011. He holds a diploma in Theology from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Ecclesiastical School (Makarios III Seminary) in Nairobi, Kenya in the year 2001 - 2004. He was appointed as Assistant Librarian at the seminary library.
During the years of 1996 – 2001, he served as Sunday school teacher and a Catechist in the parish of Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Larteh and other parishes. He worked in the Youth Ministry as a youth leader for many years. He served in many committees in the church both local and national. From 2005 – 2013, he worked as a personal secretary to Metropolitan Damaskinos, Archbishop of Accra and also working as an office clerk in the Archdiocesan office. He served as parish council member and served as parish council Administrative/Financial secretary at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Cathedral in Accra between 2012 and 2015.
He was ordained a deacon and was named Irenaeus in 2012 and in 2014 was ordained as a priest. He was assigned as the parish priest of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church at Tema, Ghana in 2014 and he was elevated to the rank of Protopresbyter in 2023.
Email: danielopokuayeh@gmail.com or fririneos@yahoo.com
Protopresbyter Father. Joseph Kwame Labi
Member of the School Board
Very Rev. Fr. Kwame Joseph Ayete Labi is a Grand Protopresbyter of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa. Currently he is the Vicar General of the Holy Orthodox Archdiocese of Accra and Rector of the Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Cathedral, Abeka La Paz in Accra.
He had his theological Education at the St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, New York (1977- 1982), obtaining a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree in 1980. He was ordained into the holy diaconate and the priesthood in September of 1982 when the Church in Ghana was received into the Holy Archdiocese of Accra of the Greek Orthodoxy Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa. Fr. Kwame Joseph has been instrumental in the establishment and development of canonical Orthodoxy in his country of Ghana, laying the foundations for an authentic Orthodox liturgical life of the local Church. This work has included the translations of liturgical material for parish use, the training clergy and lay liturgy leaders in the use of such material, providing training for hitherto untrained clergy in the performance of their duties, and organising and leading annual and periodic retreats for clergy. He has served a number of parishes of the Church. He pastored the St. Nicholas Orthodox Mission in Accra, the precursor of the Transfiguration Orthodox Cathedral founded in 1989 and has served that parish for most of his pastoral ministry.
While still a seminarian, the young Kwame led the Orthodox Youth Organisation of Ghana into membership of Syndesmos, the World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth, in the Syndesmos Assembly in Valamo, Finland in 1980. He was elected in the same assembly to the Executive Committee of that fellowship and served on the committee till 1992.
Fr. Kwame Joseph also led the Orthodox Church in Ghana into membership of the Christian Council of Ghana in the mid-1980s and has served on various committees and leadership positions of the Council including as Vice Chairman of the Council for 2014 and 2015. Currently, he is a member of the Council’s Executive Council and Standing Committee.
After having represented the Patriarchate of Alexandria in various capacities at the World Council of Churches, Fr. Kwame Labi joined the staff of the Council in January of 1999 as a Programme Executive for Mission and Evangelism. He worked in that capacity till January of 2007 when he returned to pastoral ministry in Ghana.
Fr. Kwame served as one of the theological advisors in the official delegation of the Patriarchate of Alexandria to the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church held in Crete in 2016.
In recognition of his services to the Church and the Patriarchate, His Beatitude Theodoros II conferred on Fr. Kwame Joseph the high Order of St. Savvas the Sanctified in September 2022, on the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the reception of the Church in Ghana and his own ordination to the priesthood.
Email: kwamelabi@gmail.com
Protopresbyter Father. Basil Ayete Labi
Very Rev. Fr. Basil Ayete Labi is the Parish Priest of Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Larteh, Ghana. He also serves as Chaplain of St. Peter’s College, Priest in Charge of St. Thomas Parish in Domeabra, and Vicar of the Eastern Deanery. Born in December 1971, Fr. Basil was raised in Larteh by his grandfather, the late Very Rev. Fr. Gregory Labi. His journey in the Orthodox faith began at an early age, and in 1982, he was among the first group of faithful received into Canonical Orthodoxy in Ghana. Deeply involved in church life as a youth, he became a reader during services and actively supported liturgical training and youth formation programs across parishes.
After his theological studies in the United States, at the “Hellenic College and Holy Cross Theological Seminary” in Brookline Massachusetts, USA, was ordained to the Diaconate in 2009 and to the Priesthood in 2011. In recognition of his service, he was elevated to the rank of Protopresbyter in 2018 by the Patriarch of Alexandria. Over the years, he has served in several parishes across Ghana and held leadership roles within the Orthodox Church, including founding the Orthodox Christian Youth Camp in 2017. Fr. Basil is passionate about education, youth mentorship, and spiritual development.
Email: kbaslab@gmail.com
Protopresbyter Fr. Irenaeus Opoku Ayeh
Protopresbyter Fr. Irenaeus (Opoku Ayeh Daniel) was born in Larteh Akuapem in 1974 where he completed his schooling. He is a graduate of the University of Ghana, Legon with Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Banking and Finance option) in 2008 - 2011. He holds a diploma in Theology from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Ecclesiastical School (Makarios III Seminary) in Nairobi, Kenya in the year 2001 - 2004. He was appointed as Assistant Librarian at the seminary library.
During the years of 1996 – 2001, he served as Sunday school teacher and a Catechist in the parish of Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Larteh and other parishes. He worked in the Youth Ministry as a youth leader for many years. He served in many committees in the church both local and national. From 2005 – 2013, he worked as a personal secretary to Metropolitan Damaskinos, Archbishop of Accra and working as an office clerk in the Archdiocesan office. He served as parish council member and served as parish council Administrative/Financial secretary at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Cathedral in Accra between 2012 and 2015. Rev. Fr. Irenaeus was elevated to the rank of Protopresbyter in 2023.
Email: danielopokuayeh@gmail.com
Maria Filopoulou is a graduate of the Department of Primary Education of the University of Ioannina. She holds an MSc in Preservation and Management of Cultural Heritage from the Ionian University. She also graduate of the Higher School of Dramatic Art St. Varvara ‘Iakovos Kambanellis’, Αthens. Since 2008 she has been working as a permanent teacher at the Greek Ministry of Education & Religious Affairs. At the same time, he has taken part in theatrical and educational performances: (Museum of Human Behavior, concept-director: Nikos Diamantis, Athens Festival 2013), etc. Attend several seminars for preservation of cultural heritage (2021-2023) and seminars for learning problems inside the school. She is external partner on e-learning program at the National University of Athens.
Email: mariafilopoulou7@gmail.com
