THE PATRIARCH OF LOVE IN THE CITY OF RUBBISH

     On 18th October 2012 His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, completing his missionary and pastoral visit to the Holy Diocese of Katanga, visited the schools of the Hellenic Community of Lubumbashi, where he enjoyed discussions with the staff and the pupils, giving them advice and his blessings. 

     Together with His Grace Meletios Bishop of Katanga he then drove to the so-called “city of rubbish”, in a suburb in Lubumbashi, where the Parish Community of the Holy Great Martyr Stephen and a school belonging to the Holy Diocese are already in existence.

     The enthusiasm shown by the faithful for the visit of His Beatitude to their Parish was obvious, and was particularly discussed by the media, which described the Venerable Primate of the Throne of St Mark as the “Patriarch of
Love”.

      It is to be noted that His Beatitude, following the Doxology at the temporary church of St Stephen, went to the place where the new, larger Church is under construction for the needs of the ever-growing Orthodox faithful where he was told of their many needs by Monk Kyrillos, who for many years has ministered at this church.