An African King hailing from the Ivory Coast has been baptised Greek Orthodox in Mount Athos.
Tribal King Tchiffi Zae Jean Gervais of the Krou chieftains in Côte d’Ivoire, as he is formally known, travelled to the Orthodox spiritual centre located in the northeast of Greece and took part in the sacrament last Thursday at the Monastery of Koutloumousiou.
The service, carried out by Hieromonk Dionysius, saw the King receive the Christian name of David.
A prominent figure, King Tchiffi Zie Jean Gervais serves as the Permanent Secretary General of the Forum of Kings, Princes, Sheiks and Traditional Leaders of Africa and is the Prime Chancellor of the United Kingdoms of Africa.
The Greek Orthodox faith has had a presence in the north of Africa for hundreds of years, and in the past hundred years has developed south of the Sahara Desert. Overall the prevalence has been growing since the 19th century, with members of the faith from across the diaspora venturing to various parts of Africa and establishing churches under the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa.