HIS BEATITUDE PAYS A PASTORAL VISIT TO TUNISIA

       On the morning of 5th June 2014, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa arrived in Tunisia from his see in Cairo, accompanied by His Eminence Nikodimos Metropolitan of Memphis, for a pastoral visit the Orthodox flock of the Patriarchate and to have a series of official contacts with the President of the country as well as with government, religious and diplomatic authorities. At the VIP lounge of the airport the Patriarch was met by the local Metropolitan Alexios of Carthage, head of the clergy of the Metropolis, the Ambassador of Greece in Tunis Mrs. Anna Korka with the Secretary of the Embassy Mr. Socrates Sourvinos, the Chairman of the Hellenic Community Mr. Ioannis Boundouroglou together with the members of the executive committee. His Beatitude then went to the Cathedral of St George in Tunis, warmly welcomed by the faithful, where he emotionally venerated the place of ministry of his benefactor and predecessor, Patriarch Parthenios III of Alexandria, who for 29 years served as Metropolitan of Carthage. He also visited the offices and the school of the small Hellenic Community and the renovated Bishopric of the Metropolis, where he joyfully held discussions with the faithful and the local Metropolitan.

       At night he attended an official dinner which was hosted in his honour at the Ambassadorial residence by the Ambassador Mrs. Anna Korka. Invited guests, apart from the Metropolitans of Carthage and Memphis, were the Clergy, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and of the Presidency, a representatitve of the Tunisia Government, the Apostolic Nuncio with the Catholic Archbishop, the Egyptian Ambassador, the head of the representatives of the European Union and all the Orthodox Ambassadors, of Russia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and other dignitaries. During the official gathering, both sides exchanged addresses and commemorative gifts.