THE FUTURE OF ORTHODOXY IN THE CAMEROON IS HOPEFUL

On 27th November 2017, the final day of the missionary visit of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa to the Holy Metropolis of the Cameroon, the Alexandrian Primate visited the lush wooded suburb of Nsimalen, outside the capital Yaoundé, to perform the Inauguration Service at the newly built Holy Church of the Most Holy Theotokos “Myrtidiotissis”, within the Holy Retreat of the same name.

His Beatitude was accompanied during the Inauguration Ceremony, by Their Eminences Gregory, Metropolitan of the Cameroon and Narcissus of Accra. Several people from Yaoundé were present as well as crowds of Indigenous Orthodox Christians, who gave the Alexandrian Primate an exceptional welcome. Also moving, was the presence of little children from the schools in the area, which testifies to the hopeful future of Orthodoxy in the area. In a mood of gladness expressed their enthusiasm both for the completion of the Holy Church, as well as for the blessing of the presence of the Patriarch amongst them. In his address, the Patriarch congratulated His Eminence Gregory for the completion of the Holy Church of the Theotokos as well as for the general progress of the Orthodox faith, in the spiritual fields of the local Orthodox Church in the Cameroon.

He also mentioned the donor of the Holy Church Mrs. Irene, commemorating her late parents Dimitrios and Maria, praying for the repose of their souls. Before the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, the Primate, Theodoros II, enthroned as the first Hegumen of the Holy Retreat of the “Virgin Myrtidiotissis”, the Chancellor the Very Reverend Archimandrite Prodromos Katsoulis, praying that the blessing of the Theotokos would support him and that the Holy Retreat would be filled with many monks. Immediately after the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude the Patriarch, called to a Clergy Synaxis in the hall adjacent to the Church, the Clergy of the Metropolis of the Cameroon, to whom he addressed spiritually strengthening words, and giving them blessings.

A lunch of local foods followed in the courtyard of the Holy Church, to celebrate the day, and indigenous Orthodox Christians presented a dance programme. Yet another missionary journey of the Alexandrian Primate ended. The spiritual seed was sown! Rich fruits of Orthodox faith and life will blossom rapidly, in the Ecclesiastical field of the Cameroon. The future of African Orthodoxy is expected to be brilliant.