On 22nd February 2008, His Beaitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, accompanied by His Grace Ignatios of Madagascar and the Very Reverend Archimandrite Panteleimon Arathymos, vsited the National Centre of Natural Destruction of Madagascar, in Antananarivo, and handed over a large amount of clothing and items of necessity for the thousands of people hit by the catastrophic cyclone Ivan, which caused so much destruction recently.
During the hand over, the Director of the Centre, Jean Rakotomalala, spoke to His beatitude of the adverse conditions existing following the cyclone and expressed the gratitude of His Excellency the President and the people of Madagascar for the support of the Orthodox Church in these difficult times.
His Beatitude expressed his sadness for the suffering population following this natural phenomenon and assured the Director of the continuing assistance of the local Church, led by Bishop Ignatios, to the people of this African island.
