On 23rd February 2008, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, accompanied by His Grace Ignatios Bishop of Madagascar and the Very Rev Archimandrite Panteleimon Arathymos, began a three-day missionary tour of Toulear in Southern Madagascar, on the shores of the Indian Ocean .
During the official welcome at the airport, the Alexandrian Primate was welcomed by the Local District Administrator, the Mayor of Toulear, political and military officials, the clergy and many Orthodox faithful.
His Beatitude thanked everyone for the warm welcome and addressed the local authorities from whom he asked to be informed about the immediate needs of the people, emphasizing that the Ancient Patriarchate would always stand by this beautiful country.
A doxology for the arrival of His Beatitude was then sung at the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos.
