COMPLETION OF HIS BEATITUDE’S PASTORAL VISIT TO THE HOLY DIOCESE OF TOLIARA AND SOUTHERN MADAGASCAR

On Monday, September 12, 2022, during the fourth day of his missionary visit, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, accompanied by His Grace Prodromos Bishop of Toliara and South Madagascar, visited the 7th and 8th educational institutions of the Holy Diocese and inaugurated these two new school units.

He was warmly welcomed by the teachers and students of the schools. The Patriarch spoke about the importance of education in people's lives, as these young children are the future and the hope of the country. He then distributed stationery, notebooks and pencils.

At noon he visited the central penitentiary of Toliara, where he was warmly welcomed by the administrative staff, workers and inmates.

His Beatitude spoke with words of hope to the prisoners and explained to them the meaning of forgiveness and repentance in human life. His Beatitude assured them that the Orthodox Church and the local Diocese will be beside them and congratulated the local Bishop Prodromos for the initiative to distribute food to the prisons three times a week. The prisoners number a total of 800 people.

In the afternoon of the same day, in a cordial atmosphere, he received members of the Muslim Community of Toliara.

His Beatitude spoke about the course of the Alexandrian Church, the fraternal coexistence of Christians and Muslims over the centuries and thanked the members of the community for their practical help in the philanthropic work of the Holy Diocese.

Today, Tuesday, September 13, 2022, His Beatitude with his entourage departed by air for Antananarivo where he will continue his missionary tour in the Holy Metropolis of Antananarivo and Northern Madagascar.