His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, together with His Eminence Alexandros Metropolitan of Nigeria and His Grace Damaskinos Bishop of Ghana, inaugurated the new Church of St Nicholas on June 29th 2008, in the largest harbour in Ghana, which was built with donations from Mr Panayiotis Tsakos and many of his colleagues, by Greek sailors, who wanted to honour their Patron Saint.
This is a significant event both for the few Greeks who still live in Ghana as well as for the local inhabitants whom the Patriarch met and gave them a piece of bread, symbolically, as is the custom in the region, as a token of honour, friendship and love.
During the inauguration of the Church, Mr Tsakos announced that already a start had been made on the study for the creation of a community and medical Centre, to be named “St Nicholas” which will be funded by the “Maria Tsakos Institute”.
His Beatitude thanked Mr Panayiotis Tsakos and the Greek Sailors, for their financial contribution towards the completion of the work. Awarding him the Cross of St Mark as a token of gratitude from the Alexandria n Church, he spoke of the passion of Greeks who know no limitations of labour and effort when they are to build their church even in one of the most distant corners of the earth.
Our African brothers and sisters also participated in their national dress, with the sounds of drums, by welcoming both the Venerable Primate of the Church of A l e x a n d r i a and the inauguration, thereby presenting a unique image of the meeting of Greek Orthodox tradition with African culture.
Present at these Liturgical and festive events were the Ambassador of Greece Mr Haralambos Dafaranos, representatives of the country’s officials, as well as Mr Theophilos Bizanios, representative of the shipping group “AEGEAN BUNKERING”, owned by Mr N. Melissanidis, which is situated in the area and is responsible for shipping trading and transporting petroleum.
