On the evening of Sunday 17th February 2013, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa visited the Russian Destroyer “MARSHALL SHPOSHNIKOV”, which, being anchored off shoe in Tanzania on a peaceful visit and with the opportunity of the name day of His Beatitude, sailed in to the harbor in Dar-es-Salaam and presented due honours with seven gun salute according to naval protocol as the Patriarch was boarding.
His Beatitude was accompanied by His Eminence Dimitrios Metropolitan of Irinopolis, His Excellency the Ambassador of Russia Mr. Alexander A. Rannikh and the Very Reverend Archimandrite Meletios Koumanis, Hegumen of the Patriarchal Monastery of St Savvas in Alexandria.
During the visit His Beatitude had the opportunity of touring the Destroyer and to speak in Russian to the Officers and the 350 members of the crew, giving them courage and paternal advice, while the Commander gave him commemorative gifts on the occasion of His Beatitude’s name day, emphasizing the great blessing and importance which this visit has for all.
On the morning of the same day a large representation of the crew of the Russian Destroyer attended the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy.
