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(Greek Orthodox) Bishop dies in chopper crash
Sunday Times ^ | September 12, 2004

Posted on 09/12/2004 11:04:44 AM PDT by NYer

AN Australian Greek Orthodox bishop was killed alongside the spiritual leader of African Greek Orthodox Christians in a helicopter crash that killed 16 off the coast of northern Greece yesterday.

Bishop Nectarios, a former South Australian priest-monk who pioneered the church in Madagascar, was a passenger in a Greek army Chinook helicopter which crashed in the Aegean Sea.

The crash also claimed the life of African spiritual leader the Patriarch of Alexandria, Peter VII, and 14 others.

They were heading to the Mount Athos monastery in northern Greece, one of the holiest sites in Orthodox Christianity.

The aircraft's pilot reportedly warned air traffic control that he was losing altitude around 11am (6pm AEST) yesterday.

A rescue operation found wreckage and bodies in the water 5.5 nautical miles off the Halkidiki peninsula where Mount Athos is located.

The crash is believed to have been an accident, although investigations have not been complete.

Bishop Nectarios was a bank manager before being ordained a priest-monk and serving at the St Nectarios Monastery in Adelaide, where he was remembered at a service this morning.

He was the head of the church's operations in Madagascar, Mauritius and Reunion – which was part of the Alexandrian church before becoming its own diocese in 1997.

As bishop, he built up the Madagascan church from nothing to 15,000 members.

He built several schools, worked with orphans and set up disaster relief and health care programs in Madagascar diocese, supported by church members in Australia.

A spokesman for his committee for foreign missions said Bishop Nectarios would be sadly missed.

"Every year he came back to Adelaide to get a bit of funds and check up on his health and so on," the spokesman said.

"He was much loved."


TOPICS: Activism; Current Events; General Discusssion; Ministry/Outreach; Orthodox Christian; Prayer
KEYWORDS: orthodoxchristians; patriarchpetros

1 posted on 09/12/2004 11:04:46 AM PDT by NYer
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To: Destro; kosta50; MarMema; Cronos

Prayerful bump to a tragic story.


2 posted on 09/12/2004 11:05:43 AM PDT by NYer (When you have done something good, remember the words "without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5).)
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To: american colleen; sinkspur; Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; ...

Please remember these two holy men in your prayers.


3 posted on 09/12/2004 11:07:02 AM PDT by NYer (When you have done something good, remember the words "without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5).)
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To: NYer
Up here we got the call about 10:30 last night and said a Trisagion this morning after Liturgy. Eternal Memory to the AP and his companions.
4 posted on 09/12/2004 11:08:20 AM PDT by Kolokotronis (Nuke the Cube!)
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To: NYer; All
Helicopter crash kills top cleric
5 posted on 09/12/2004 11:21:03 AM PDT by ELS
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To: NYer

Prayers for the repose of their souls.

I have heard that the head of the Greek Air Force has been sacked, and that the Defence Minister offered his resignation (which was declined).


6 posted on 09/12/2004 11:41:28 AM PDT by tjwmason (Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt.)
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To: NYer

May they rest in peace, and may the Lord grant unto them eternal rest.


7 posted on 09/12/2004 12:25:20 PM PDT by Victoria Delsoul (Kerry's testimony before the Senate was instrumental to America's defeat in the Vietnam War)
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To: tjwmason

Unlike America - resignations over mishaps are routine in parlimentary govts.


8 posted on 09/12/2004 12:57:58 PM PDT by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorism by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
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To: ELS

Apologies for the duplicate post.


9 posted on 09/12/2004 2:23:40 PM PDT by NYer (When you have done something good, remember the words "without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5).)
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To: Destro

Don't most parlimentary ministers who resign remain MP's? They aren't really resigning from government in that case. A cabinet secretary in the US who resigns loses his job. A cabinet MP doesn't.


10 posted on 09/12/2004 5:42:32 PM PDT by Hermann the Cherusker
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To: NYer

Memory eternal.


11 posted on 09/12/2004 5:44:59 PM PDT by No Truce With Kings (The opinions expressed are mine! Mine! MINE! All Mine!)
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To: NYer

It's not really a duplicate thread since it is from a different source. I was just cross referencing the other thread.


12 posted on 09/12/2004 6:16:40 PM PDT by ELS
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To: Hermann the Cherusker
That is correct. In cases of military officers they retain rank and remain in the service and the office goes to the next in charge.
13 posted on 09/12/2004 6:52:17 PM PDT by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorism by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
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To: NYer; Kolokotronis; ELS; tjwmason; Victoria Delsoul; Hermann the Cherusker; No Truce With Kings
Patriarch Petros: Architect of Christian revival in Africa not seen since Roman imperial times dies
14 posted on 09/12/2004 6:55:34 PM PDT by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorism by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
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To: NYer

Thank you and May God bless their souls. Memory Eternal!


15 posted on 09/12/2004 7:28:18 PM PDT by MarMema
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To: NYer

this is very sad news...


16 posted on 09/13/2004 12:19:44 AM PDT by Cronos (W2K4)
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To: NYer

Thank you for the post. One never knows when we will be called to face Him.


17 posted on 09/13/2004 12:37:55 AM PDT by kosta50 (Eastern Orthodoxy is pure Christianity)
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To: NYer

May light perpetual shine upon them. And may Christ's work go forward as they return to Him.


18 posted on 09/13/2004 10:00:30 AM PDT by good_fight (Anglo-Catholic in religion, classicist in literature, realist in politics.)
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