Bishop Gilbert Rakotodravelo Elected New Archbishop of Indian Ocean Province
VICTORIA, Seychelles — Bishop Gilbert Rateloson Rakotodravelo of the Diocese of Fianarantsoa has been elected the new Archbishop of the Anglican Province of the Indian Ocean, succeeding Bishop James Wong of the Diocese of Seychelles. The election took place at the last synod in Madagascar, and the new Archbishop is set to take up his new role on Sunday 19 January.
Bishop Wong, who has served as Archbishop and Primate of the Province from 2017 to 2024, will continue as Bishop of the Diocese of Seychelles until 9 April, when a special service will mark his formal retirement. The process to elect his replacement will begin on 10 April, with a new bishop expected to be in place by the second half of 2025.
“With this retreat, we celebrate our faith in God. At the last synode in Madagascar, I offered my retirement as Archbishop and the synod elected Bishop Gilbert Rateloson Rakotodravelo as the new Archbishop,” Bishop Wong said. He added that he had offered 15 years of “joy, challenges, support and happiness” to the people of Seychelles and the wider Church.
Archbishop-elect Rakotodravelo, who has been a bishop for 22 years and has visited Seychelles four times, said he wanted to “continue along the same path” set by Bishop Wong. He thanked the people of the Province for the trust placed in him and pledged to work closely with the Church in Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles.
