His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa is paying an official Pastoral and Missionary visit to the ecclesial provinces of Central Africa (Holy Metropolis of Central Africa, Holy Diocese of Katanga, Holy Diocese of Brazzaville and Gabon) from 12th October to 3rd November 2012.
Starting from the Holy Diocese of Katanga His Beatitude arrived on the morning of 12th October 2012 at the airport in Lubumbashi, Katanga, in the People’s Republic of the Congo, accompanied by the Very Reverend Narkissos Gammo, Principal of the “St Athanasios” Patriarchal Academy of Alexandria. His Beatitude was welcomed by the local Bishop His Grace Meletios, the Honorary Consul of Greece Mr. Gerasimos Dounis, clergy, state officials and many faithful.
They went to Kolwezi the See of the Holy Diocese of Katanga where a Doxology was sung in the Holy Church of St George for the arrival of His Beatitude. In his brief address His Grace Bishop Meletios welcomed the Venerable Primate of the Church of Alexandria and expressed the joy, honour and dedication to Orthodoxy and the Throne of the indigenous Christian population.
In his reply His Beatitude expressed his emotions on being faced with the faithful and pure African brothers and sisters, his gratitude for the warm welcome and emphasized the ceaselss concern of the Patriarchate for their spiritual and general progress, through the tireless spiritual efforts of His Grace Meletios Bishop of Katanga.
To be noted is the fact that within the framework of his Missionary journey His Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria will visit Kinshasa, the capital of the People’s Republic of the Congo, will conduct the inauguration of the Holy Church of St Andreas Kananga of the Holy Metropolis of Central Africa, and on 31st October he will go to Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo, where among other things, he will lay the foundations of the clinic in the Nzassi area, of the Holy Diocese of Brazzaville and Gabon.
He will also have meetings with state officials, local officials and diplomatic missions; he will award distinctions to clergy and pay people, collaborators in the multifaceted missionary and pastoral efforts of the above named ecclesial Provinces and will visit Orthodox parish communities, missionary centres and Hellenic communites.
