Today, Sunday, May 29, 2022, the third day of the pastoral visit of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, to the Holy Diocese of Arusha and Central Tanzania, a Patriarchal Liturgy was served at the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Arusha, conducted by His Beatitude and concelebrated with His Eminence Daniel Metropolitan of Aksum, His Grace Chrysostomos Bishop of Bukoba and the local Bishop His Grace Agathonikos Bishop of Arusha and Central Tanzania.
During the Divine Liturgy His Beatitude performed the consecrations of Archimandrite Markos Kalinga as a Spiritual Father, of Hieromonk Nicephorus Ilomo as Archimandrite and of Priest Matthew Nziku as Protopresbyter. Also, in an atmosphere of great emotion he performed the tonsure of a blessed young man from Kindamali in Iringa, Photios Chengula, as a Monk, who received the name Eumenius, in honour of the new Saint of our Church Eumenius (Saridakis) of Crete. It is worth noting that Fr. Evmenios has a problem with his eyesight and today, the Sunday of the Blind Man, during which he donned the blessed cassock, is by no means accidental.
Visibly moved, the Patriarch referred in his homily yet again yo his personal vision for the city and Diocese of Arusha, saying saying that all the works that will be carried out are done with love by the Church for the inhabitants of this blessed city and for their children, so that the light of Orthodoxy may radiate eternally in this area. At this point, he wished the His Grace Agathonikos Bishop of Arusha a good and blessed start to the difficult task that lies ahead, for the construction of the recently founded Church of the Most Holy Theotokos and the multifunctional Missionary Center. He also spoke paternally to the new monk Eumenius and the clergy he consecrated, instructing them to serve the Church and their brothers and sisters with deep faith and fervent zeal.
Addressing the faithful His Beatitude thanked firstly the President of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan for the possibility that she gives to all religions to freely exercise the right of religion, as well as the Consul of Greece in Dar es Salaam His Excellency Mr. William Ferentino, the Deputy Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Tanzania Mr. Dimitrios Mantheakis and the members of the Hellenic Community of Arusha for their warm welcome and support of the work of the ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria in the country of Tanzania and gratefully referred to the person of His Eminence Dimitrios Metropolitan of Irinopolis, praising his many years of service in this country.
The Cantors and readers of the Diocese of Arusha chanted melodically during the Divine Liturgy, as it is with great zeal that they study the hymnological texts of the Church and work with passion and responsibility, with the help of the Nun Alexia, for the translation of the liturgical texts.
After the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, in the courtyard of the Holy Temple, a festive event was held with African dances and songs, in honor of the Patriarch, with the participation of young people from the Diocese of Arusha and indigenous members of the Masai tribe.
His Beatitude thanked the contributors of the event and distributed various blessings to everyone in commemoration of the Patriarchal visit to the city of Arusha.
Immediately after, His Beatitude had a meeting with all the members of the Greek Community, Greeks and Cypriots, with whom he had a cordial meeting and discussed all the issues that concern them.
