On the two days of 21st and 22nd May 2016, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, continued his many days of pastoral and missionary journey to provinces of the Throne in South Africa, and arrived in the city of Durban, of the Holy Metropolis of Good Hope, where he was warmly welcomed by the local Metropolitan Sergios and the entire Hellenic Community.
On the evening of his arrival, a festive dinner was held in honour of His Beatitde, in the presence of His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece Mr. Eleftherios Kouvaritakis, the Honorary Consuls of Greece and Cyprus, Messrs. Yiannis Ioannou and Savvas Stylianou, Government representatives and community members.
The Patriarch had the opportunity of speaking paternally with the Hellenes about love and harmony, to lift the morale of all those Hellenes who have lived for so many years far from their homes in Greece, as well as to urge the younger generation to keep alive the flame of paternal tradition, the Greek language and the Orthodox faith.
During the duration of the festive programme, the pupils of the Greek schools had a private meeting with the Patriarch, who blessed all the children and wished them good progress, while they gave him commemorative gifts and art work which they had done in his honour.
On Sunday 22nd May His Beatitude officiated at Orthros and conducted the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy in the Holy Church of St Nicholas in Durban, together with Hs Eminence Sergios Metropolitan of Good Hope and the Patriarchal Exarch in Cyprus Protopresbyter Athinodoros Papaevripiades, Greek and Russian faithful and all their communities.
In the next few days His Beatitude will visit the missionary centres in the area and will bless the new missionary activities of the Orthodox Church.
