His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, arrived in Athens on 24th June 2009, together with Archimandrite Panteleimon Arathymos, Director of Developmental Works of the ancient Patriarchate.
On 25th June His Beatitude received in his Athens Patriarchal Office Mr Philippos Kossenas, Chairman of the Society of Hellenes from Egypt , as well as Mr Stephanos Vlastos, Private Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Religion, with whom he discussed issued regarding the “Athanasios the Great” Patriarchal Academy of Alexandria.
On the afternoon of the same day, accompanied by His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Petros of Aksum, his Representative in Athens, went to the central offices of the Pan-Hellenic Socialist Party were he met with its Leader Mr George Papandreou,and his colleagues Messrs, Dollis, Dritsas and Samouris. His Beatitude updated Mr Papandreou about the missionary work undertaken on the African Continent, the operation of the philanthropic institutions of the Throne in Egypt and the countries of Africa, the progress of the renovations of the ancient Monastery of St George in Old Cairo and the operation of the Patriarchal Academy of Alexandria. He also passed on the joyful feelings of the leaders of countries which His Beatitude meets officially, regarding their communication of Greece through the ancient Patriarchate.
In the evening, His Beatitude visited the offices of the N.G.O. of the Patriarchate “Light of Africa”, where he spoke to the members of the Executive Council about practical issues and missionary problems, giving the relative guidance. He also expressed his gratitude to the Executive Council for their valuable assistance to the multifaceted work of the Church of the Alexandrenes, to Mr. Thomas Karakostas, Director of Programmes and Programming for his contribution towards the structure of the N.G.O. and finally also to the Director of Developmental Works Archimandrite Panteleimon Arathymos for the structure and overseeing of the operation and relative issues of the Organization.
