On 28th February 2008, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, officiated at the Divine Liturgy at the Greek Church of St Nicholas in Matsunga in Northern Madagascar , attended by the local Greeks and the few Greek sailors who reside in the town.
He then went on a 70km drive further north, where he inaugurated the new Orthodox School of the Parish of Ss Constantine and Helen, Equal to the Apostles in Fokondeny, built by the Holy Diocese of Madagascar.
A festive celebration followed after the inauguration, with dances and songs presented by the Orthodox pupils, to whom His Beatitude gave stationery and toys. The festivities were closed by the Governor of the Province of Bueny of Northern Madagascar , who expressed the gratitude of the people of the area, for the social and humanistic work of the Orthodox Church and assured His Beatitude of the co-operation of the local authorities.
At noon, His Beatitude met again with the Mayor of Matsunga who asked for the Church’s help with the great problem of housing for the many abused children as well as for the babies which are left in garbage cans because of social prejudices.
His Beatitude and His Grace Ignatios assured the Mayor that the building and operation of a special house for the care of suffering children and babies would be the first priority of the work of the local Church, which would begin its work as early as next month.
On the night of the same day, His Beatitude returned by air to Antananarivo , to depart on 29th February 2008 for the Patriarchal See, having completed, by the Grace of God, a twenty-day journey through the African island of Madagascar .
