ΤΗΕ PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA MEETS THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF ZAMBIA

     On the morning of Friday 8th May 2009, His Beatitude Theodoros II, pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, met with the Zambian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kabinga Pande. The Minister welcomed the Patriarch warmly, thanked him for the contribution made by te Orthodox Churc to the people of Zambia and for the neutral stance taken by the Orthodox Church in the political issues of the country and placed himself and the members of his ministry at the disposal of is Beatitude for whatever assistance and support the Orthodox Church in Zambia might need. The minister also emphasized the excellent relations between the Government and His Grace Ioakeim Bishop of Zambia. His Beatitude in turn thanked the Minister for the welcome and hospitality and said that the Orthodox Church in Zambia, as well as throughout Africa, apart from the Evangelization of the nations, is concerned about the people and their contemporary social problems.

     Present at the meeting were the local Bishop, as well as  His Eminence George, Metropolitan of Zimbabwe and the Ambassador of Egypt. Commemorative gifts were exchanged during the meeting.

     On Thursday 14th May 2009, His Beatitude will meet with the President of Zambia, Mr Rupiah Banda. There is daily wide coverage of the Patriarchs visit.

     At noon His Beatitude visited and blessed the home of Mrs Olga Georgitsis and in the evening attended a dinner hosted in his honour by the Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Lusaka, Mr George Laikopoulos.

     Before the dinner, in a hall in a hotel, His Beatitude attended a concert given in his honour by a Russian quartet and a famous Russian Baritone, who had especially arrived in Lusaka following an invitation from the Russian Embassy in Lusaka, for the visit of the Patriarch to Zambia. Present also were government officials, diplomatic corps and many other people.