His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa is on a missionary visit to Nigeria, from 14th to 22nd February 2012.
His Beatitude arrived in Lagos, Nigeria, on the afternoon of 14th February 2012, accompanied by the Very Reverend Archimandrite Panteleimon Arathymos, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod. His Beatitude was welcomed at the International Airport by His Eminence Alexandros, Metropolitan of Nigeria, and His Eminence Gregory Metropolitan of the Cameroon, His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece Mr. Dionysios Sourvanos, the Honourable Consul of Egypt in Lagos Mr Ahmed Baha’ El-Din, clergy and state officials.
Within the framework of his missionary journey, His Beatitude will travel by air to Eastern Nigeria where, on 17th February 2012, the day on which he celebrates his name day, he will inaugurate the Holy Church of St Christoforos and on Sunday 19th February 2012 he will conduct the Divine Liturgy at the temporary Cathedral of the Resurrection of the Lord in Lagos and will lay the foundation of the New Cathedral.
He will also award ecclesiastical offices and distinctions to clergy and lay people who contribute to the multifaceted missionary and pastoral effort of the Holy Metropolis of Nigeria; he will have meetings with state authorities and local governors of the Democratic Federation of Nigeria, with diplomatic missions in the country and representatives of Christian denominations. He will also visit orthodox parish communities, missionary centres and Hellenic Communities.
On 22nd February 2012, His Beatitude will travel to Sierra Leone, and on the 27th of the same month he will travel to Gambia.
