On Tuesday, October 3, 2023, the His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, received at the Patriarchal See the Very Reverend Archimandrite Polykarpos Diamantopoulos, Patriarchal Vicar of the Holy Diocese of Kisangani, in the state of the People’s Republic of the Congo.
During the meeting, the Very Reverend Patriarchal Vicar extensively briefed His Beatitude about the ecclesiastical and missionary work being carried out in general in this fledgling ecclesiastical Province of the Supreme Throne of Alexandria.
For his part, His Beatitude gave paternal instructions and directions to the Very Reverend for the further progress of the ecclesiastical ministry in the local Church of Kisangani. He also expressed his thanks and just praise to Fr. Polycarpos who for fourteen years has sacrificially served the Supreme Patriarchate.
The Holy Diocese of Kisangani was established by Patriarchal and Synodal Volume in the year 2018, having in its spiritual jurisdiction the administrative regions of Kisangani, Ituri and Uele. At the time of its establishment, the Holy Diocese had 3 Parish Communities in the large urban centers of its jurisdiction, St Nicholas in the city of Bunia, the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Kisangani and St Dimitrios in the city of Isiro, with the corresponding Holy Churches, which were built by Greeks who lived there.
Today, one more Holy Church has been erected, that of Saint Anna – Saint Catherine in Kisangani, one is under construction at Lake Albert in Bunia, while two more Parish Communities have been established, yet lack places of worship. The aforementioned Parish Churches are served by an equal number of native clergy.
