Background
Petros was born Petros Papapetrou in Sichari, Kyrenia District, Cyprus on September 3, 1949. He was the oldest son of a Greek Orthodox family and both his father and grandfather were priests.
Petros was born Petros Papapetrou in Sichari, Kyrenia District, Cyprus on September 3, 1949. He was the oldest son of a Greek Orthodox family and both his father and grandfather were priests.
At the age of 12, Petros enrolled at the Machairas Monastery. Then at 17, Petros entered the Apostle Barnbas Seminary in Nicosia. He graduated from Barnbas Seminary in 1969 and was ordained as a deacon at the Machairas Monastery.
A year later, Petros was summoned by Patriarch Nicholas VI to Alexandria.
He served as a deacon under Nicholas VI while studying at the Averof High Schools.
Later on, in 1974, Petros received a scholarship from the Greek Foreign Ministry to attend the School of Theology at Athens University.
During his reign, Petros VII was credited with reviving the Greek Orthodox churches in Africa by increasing the churches" attendance of about 250,000 people. Early Work in Africa Upon graduating from Athens University in 1978, Petros was ordained as a priest by Bishop Chrysostomos of Dodonis and left for Cairo, where he was given the title of Patriarchal Vicar. Later, in 1983, Petros was promoted to Bishop of Babylon.
Throughout his career, Petros took on multiple posts throughout Africa, ranging from Johannesburg, Accra, Cameroon and Central East Africa.
While in Africa, Petros focused on restoring monasteries, such as the Monastery of Saint Sawas in Alexandria, and extending his missionary work in East Africa. Patriarchate of Alexandria Petros assumed the title of Patriarchate of Alexandria on March 9, 1997, following his election by the Holy Synod in February 1997.
He had a close rapport with his predecessor, Patriarch Parthenius III of Alexandria and assumed the latter"s post after his death in 1996. Throughout his reign, Petros built relationships with other church organizations and engaged with religious churches outside the Greek Orthodox community.
Petros reigned as Patriarch of Alexandria for seven years until his death.
Missionary work In 2002, Petros wrote to George West. Bush in an attempt to prevent the Iraq War. In his letter, Petros stated that invading Iraq would be viewed as an attack on Islam and create future problems on other religions. On September 11, 2004, Petros VII died in a 17-person helicopter crash alongside three other Church of Alexandria bishops.
The Chinook helicopter carrying the passengers crashed into the Aegean Sea while travelling to the monasteries of Mount Athos.
In 2007, Boeing was sued by the victims" families for negligence and product liability. The lawsuit was settled out of court.