Continuing his official visit, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa to the city of Lubumbashi, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on Saturday, March 25, 2023, His Beatitude visited the Greek Community School and met with the students and teachers.
There His Beatitude, speaking to the students, made a small reference about the city of Alexandria. Where its name came from, how Hellenism and literature developed, making a small reference to the great Greek poet Constantine Cavafy and the great Greek benefactors, who helped Hellenism and the Patriarchate of Alexandria. Also, His Beatitude praised the great personality of the founder of the Apostolic Church of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Apostle and Evangelist Mark, how the Patriarchate developed through the great Alexandrian Fathers, how important their theological work was and how the missionary work has been developing in recent years on the continent of the future century, Africa.
In the afternoon, His Beatitude participated in the celebratory event of the Greek Community for the 100th anniversary of its foundation. There in his speech, His Beatitude mentioned the importance the work contributed by Hellenism in the city of Lubumbashi in the D R of Congo all these years, but also that of all of Hellenism in the whole of Africa, the enormous efforts that have been made to be able to carry on and referring specifically to the new generation, he urged them with great enthusiasm to speak Greek in their homes, to develop the work of their parents and ancestors, so that Hellenism may flourish and continue to shine its light in these places because every Greek represents Greece and encloses within himself every kind of greatness. Also, His Beatitude honored the President of the Greek Community, Mr. Georgios Psarommatis, with the cross of the Apostle Mark, thanking him for the great work he has been doing in recent years in Lubumbashi, but also all Greeks for their contribution and especially all those who laboured for his reception and for the preparation of all these events.
The celebratory event was attended by His Eminence Nikodimos Metropolitan of Memphis, Patriarchal Commissioner of Cairo, the local Metropolitan, His Eminence Meletios of Katanga, His Eminence Theodosios Metropolitan of Kinshasa and His Eminence Hariton Metropolitan of Kananga, His Grace Cosmas Bishop of Constantiani, as well as the Very Reverend Archimandrite Fr Polycarpos Diamantopoulos, Patriarchal Vicar of the Holy Diocese of Kisangani, Fr Timotheos Tumba Patriarchal Vicar of the Holy Diocese of Goma, the Governor of Upper Katanga Mr. Kambula Katue, Her Excellency the Ambassador of Greece to Kinshasa Mrs Calliope Douti, the Honourable Consul General of Greece Mr. Gerasimos Dounis, the Honourable Secretary General of Hellenism Abroad and Public Diplomacy Mr. Ioannis Chrysoulakis.
On Sunday, March 26, 2023, in a solemn and reverent atmosphere, a Liturgy was served by the Patriarch and the concelebrating Hierarchs Nikodimos of Memphis, the local Metropolitan Meletios of Katanga, Theodosios of Kinshasa, Hariton of Kananga, His Grace Bishop Cosmas of Constantiani as well as the Very Reverends Polycarpos Diamantopoulos, Patriarchal Vicar of the Holy Diocese of Kisangani, Fr Timotheos Tumba, Tumba Patriarchal Vicar of the Holy Diocese of Goma, the Chief Secretaries of the Holy Metropolis of Guinea, Archimandrite Athanasios Kayembe, the Holy Metropolis of Kinshasa Archimandrite Gerasimos Kizukina.
During the Divine Liturgy His Beatitude did the Ordination to the Priesthood of Fr. Andrianos Koumba.
During his speech, His Beatitude referred to the work that the local Church has been contributing in the city of Lubumbashi since 1923, the tireless efforts of the Administrative Council and all Greeks to keep the Church as a sacred legacy and hand it on to future generations. He congratulated Metropolitan Meletios of Katanga, for his work by offering him as a gift a cross for the 50 years of the Orthodox Church in the D R of the Congo, but also for his 35 years of ministry and contribution, to remind him of the cross of the Lord and his own cross, which is offered as a sacrifice to our Congolese brothers and sisters. After the end of the Divine Liturgy, a doxology was performed for the National Anniversary of March 25th. Also present at the Divine Liturgy were Her Excellency the Ambassador of Greece to Kinshasa Mrs Calliope Douti, the Honourable Consul General of Greece Mr. Gerasimos Dounis, the Honourable Secretary General of Hellenism Abroad and Public Diplomacy Mr. Ioannis Chrysoulakis and the Chairman of the Hellenic Community Mr. George Psarommatis.
After the Divine Liturgy in the area of the Greek Community, His Beatitude participated in the festivities for the celebration of March 25. Students and teachers participated, who presented to the dignitaries the events of the Greek Revolution, the Greek tradition, the manners and customs of our country.
His Beatitude, moved by the celebratory event, particularly congratulated the teachers and the students for the excellent organization and content of the event and thanked once again the President of the Hellenic Community, Mr. Georgios Psarommatis for the beautiful welcome and hospitality they extended to him and wished that this meeting of the 100 years anniversary would be the reason for other visits and surprises.
