Ecclesiastical Region of Bogotá & Colombia

Born in Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, Colombia, Bishop Timotheos—of secular name Luis Antonio Torres Esquivel—pursues the apostolic ministry with scholarly foundation and monastic humility. He completed his primary education at Colegio Santa Teresita and secondary studies at Colegio Colombo Británico, which were validated by Colegio San Pedro Claver in 2004. A theologian from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, graduating on June 8, 2010, he also specialized in the Greek language there, completing his studies on October 8, 2007. His fluency in Spanish and advanced Greek supports his ecclesiastical labors.

Ordained deacon and presbyter in 2000 at the Basilica of Hagia Sophia in Thessaloniki, he was elevated to archimandrite at Pentecost 2002 as a monk of Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou on Mount Athos. He was elected bishop by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on August 31, 2020, and was consecrated on November 8 at the Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Bogotá, Colombia.

His ministry includes service as a parish priest and rector of Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Naucalpan, Mexico (2000–2001); chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Mexico (2001–2004); vicar for Cuba and the Caribbean (2004–2008); spiritual director of Saint Ephraim the Syrian Monastery in Kontariotissa, Pieria, Greece (2008–2010); director of translations (2011–2015); and vicar for Colombia (2015 onward). Since 2020, he has served as the ordinary bishop for Colombia and Venezuela. By God’s grace, his path embodies zeal in the faith, erudition, and missionary outreach in the Orthodox faith.