Alexander Gianniris


Metropolitan Alexander was an Eastern Orthodox Archbishop and Primate of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Nigeria, who held the rank of Metropolitan of Nigeria, Niger, Benin, and Togo, from 2004 till his death in 2023. He was appointed Metropolitan of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Nigeria on 27 October 2004, at Alexandria, Egypt.

Early life and career

George Gianniris was born in Athens on 15 May 1960. He studied Agriculture at the University of Athens in Greece and studied Theology at the University of Thessaloniki in Greece. George also attended the liturgies of the Church of Greece with minor orders.

1988–1997: Tenure as priest

On 1 October 1988, George was ordained deacon by Seraphim of Athens with the name of Alexandros. On 2 October 1988, he was ordained a priest with the dignity of archimandrite. Between the tenures of Patriarch Pathenios III and Patriarch Petros VII of Alexandria, Alexander was transferred to the Patriarchate of Alexandria, serving as the Superior at the Patriarchal Church of the Holy Unmercenaries in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg in South Africa under Archbishop Paul (Lyngris) as secretary of the Archdiocese. Archimandrite Alexander was later appointed director of the Private Patriarchal Office in April 1997.
Alexander issued the bilingual magazine Orthodox Approach, and was responsible for the radio programs of the archdiocese.

1997–2023: Tenure as bishop, archbishop, and metropolitan

On 23 September 1997, Archimandrite Alexander was elected bishop of the newly-formed Diocese of Nigeria under the Archdiocese of Cameroon and its hierarch, Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria Theodore Horeftakis, later Patriarch of Alexandria. His consecration took place on 24 November 1997. He was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan Archbishop on 27 October 2004, by the decision of the Holy Synod and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria, who was crowned on 24 October 2004.

Other activities

Metropolitan Alexander was a member of the South African Institute of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, and the Holy Synod.

Personal life

On 7 January 2021, the Archbishop tested positive for the COVID-19 a few moments before boarding an airplane from Lagos to Athens. On 26 March 2021 he advised Nigerians via Orthodox Times not to hesitate to get vaccinated.

Death and burial

In his final days, the Archbishop was seriously sick, and hospitalised in Greece, where he died on 30 June 2023, aged 63. His funeral was held on 1 July 2023 at the Monastery of St. Porphyrios in Milesi, Attica, Greece. In July 2023, a memorial service was held at the Cathedral in Lagos, Nigeria.