A very warm welcome was afforded His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa by the Orthodox faithful of Arusha, on the second day of his missionary visit to Tanzania, at the site where the new multi-dynamic Missionary Center of the Diocese will be built.
The Patriarch served the Blessing of the Water and laid the foundation stone for the construction of a Holy TChurch in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Today's foundation marks the beginning of work to achieve a great vision of His Beatitude for the city of Arusha, as well as for the whole of East Africa, which he has been planning from the day of his ascension to the Patriarchal Throne of St. Mark.
The multi-dynamic Missionary Center will include a Technical Vocational School, printing workshop of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, schools, a clinic for the primary care of the inhabitants of the Region, places for hosting clergy and volunteers of the mission and a hall for seminars.
Visibly moved by the start of the work, His Beatitude prayed that God will grant strength, enlightenment and patience to His Grace Agathonikos, Bishop of Arousha and Central Africa, to complete this enormous work that has just begun. He also thanked all the Missionary Associations and Fraternities from Greece, which support the work of the Holy Diocese of Arusha, making special reference to the Missionary House of St.Dionysios, which is based in the Holy Monastery of the same name in Litochoro, in Pieria.
On the evening of the same day the Service of Great Vespers was officiated by His Beatitude at the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Arusha.
