On 26th February 2011 His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, received in the Patriarchal See His Grace Ignatios Bishop of Madagascar to discuss issues concerning the missionary and pastoral work of the Holy Diocese.
The missionary effort in Madagascar began in 1994 by the late Archimandrite Nektarios Kellis. On 23rd September 1997 during the Convening of the Holy Synod of the Hierarchs of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the Holy Diocese of Madagascar was established by Patriarchal and Synodal Decree and in its jurisdiction it includes the islands of Madagascar, Mauritius, Comores, Reunion and Mayotte. The first Bishop elected for this Diocese was Archimandrite Nektarios Kellis, who served the Holy Diocese up until 11th September 2004, when he was tragically killed together with the late Patriarch Petros VII of Alexandria in a helicopter accident. In October 2004 the Holy Synod elected His Grace Ignatios as Bishop.
Today the Holy Diocese of Madagascar numbers 80 Parish communities, which are served by 30 indigenous priests. There are also five Missionary and three Spiritual Centres, an ecclesiastical seminary offering a two-year study term, fifteen schools as well as a Greek school, three technical schools, two medical centres which offer free medical and pharmaceutical care and an old age home.
Also offered s a daily soup kitchen for 1500 children, food is distributed, as well as clothing and financial assistance to 950 suffering families, stationery for schools in the country, etc.
