His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa is on a Pastoral and Missionary visit in the Ecclesiastical Province of the Alexandrian throne in the People’s Republic of the Congo and the Holy Metropolis of Katanga. His Beatitude the Patriarch arrived at noon on 11th February 2016 at the airport in the city of Lubumbashi, accompanied by the Very Reverend Archimandrite Daniel Biazis, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod.
The Alexandrian Primate was welcomed by the local Metropolitan Meletios of Katanga, Metroplitan Nicephrus of Kinshasa, His Grace Bishop Innocent of Burundi and Rwanda, the Honorary Consul General of Greece Mr. Gerasimos Dounis, the representative of His Excellency th Ambassador of Greece in Kinshasa Mr. George Papakostas, the Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Lubumbashi Mr. George Psaromatis, many Members of the Executive Council of the Hellenic Community,, many Clergy, State officials and hundreds of Orthodox Christians.
Immediately after his arrival, the Alexandrian Primate was received with great honour at the City Hall by the Honourable Mayor of Lubumbashi, Mr. Οscar Sanguza Mutunda, who, in welcoming the arrival of His Beatitude, praised the contribution of Greeks in the city, as well as that of the Holy Metropolis, assuring his honoured guests of the full assistance of the local government in their multifaceted activities, expressed his gratitude for the many levels of contribution by the local Orthodox Church, and described the presence of His Beatitude as a great honour and blessing for the local community. His Beatitude thanked the Honourable Mr. Οscar Sanguza Mutunda for the honorary reception, for the support of the Orthodox Church and also praised the progress and the development which he has noticed with the passing of time in the city of Lubumbashi. His Beatitude then went on to sign the Visitor’s Book of the City.
His Beatitude then made his way to the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation f the Theotokos where a Doxology was sung in his honour. At the church he was warmly welcomed by all the clergy of the Holy Metropolis of Katanga and by hundreds of faithful Christians. Immediately thereafter he attended a lunch hosted in his honour by the Hellenic Community of Lubumbashi, in the function hall of the community. During the relative addresses, the importance of preserving Hellenic conscience and ancestral customs and traditions, as well as the passing on of the universal values of Hellenism to all who want them was stressed, and the youth presented a programme of traditional Greek dances and songs.
