On 13th February 2016, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, accompanied by His Eminence Meletios Metropolitan of Katanga, His Eminence Nicephorus Metropolitan of Kinshasa, His Grace Innocent Bishop of Burundi and Rwanda and the Honorary Consul General of Greece, Mr. Gerasimos Dounis, paid a visit to the complete school, of all levels of education, of the Hellenic Community of Lubumbashi.
At the entrance to the Hellenic School, he was welcomed by the Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Lubumbashi Mr. George Psaromatis, the Principal together with the Association of the 16 teachers and all 60 pupils from the school. During his visit he had the joy of communicating with the teachers and the pupils, giving them advice and offering his blessing to all. He spoke to them about the importance of witness and testimony in the Missionary struggle undertaken by the ancient Patriarchate throughout the African continent, congratulated the teachers on the orderly operation of the school and the important academic work they do. He asked the children to be proud of their Greek heritage, their language and their glorious history and culture. This was followed by a meeting in the board room of the Association of teachers, during which all the issues regarding the operation of the school were discussed in detail. His Beatitude then went on to visit the large factory complexes which belong to Greeks from the city of Lubumbashi, and prayed for their continuous progress and productive operation.
Immediately thereafter, the Alexandrian Primate visited for the first time the populous Parish Community of the Saint and Great Martyr Sophia, in the Kikushi district, thirty kilometers rom Lubumbashi. There, hundreds of mainly young Orthodox Christians from the neighbouring Missionary schools, waited for His Beatitude the Patriarch, where with enthusiasm and shouts of joy they welcomed him to their Community. Doxology prayers were sung and speeches made by both His Beatitude and the Parish Priest.
