On Wednesday, February 7, A.T.M. Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Mr. Theodore II arrived by plane in Lagos, the financial capital of Nigeria. He was met at the airport by the clergy of Eastern Nigeria and the CEO of the AG Leventis family group of companies. In the afternoon, the Patriarch visited Greek businesses (Coca Cola, Mandylas, Pick & Pay, Alexis Gallery Art Cafe, etc.).
The next day, the Patriarch traveled to the Cathedral of the Resurrection, where he was received by the Most Holy Clergy of the Holy Metropolis of Nigeria (Nigeria, Tongo and Benin). After the installation of the Glorification, His Beatitude performed the Trisagogy for the repose of the soul of Blessed Metropolitan Mr. Alexander of Nigeria. After the completion of the Trisagion, the Blessed One spoke fondly of the personality of the deceased Saint, of the deceased's long personal friendship from his student days and of his contribution to the Patriarchate in South Africa, Alexandria and for the past 26 years in Nigeria, a project he developed on the foundations built by the Blessed Metropolitan of Accra (later Carthage and Pilus) Mr. Irenaios Talamwekos.
The Observer, Metropolitan George of Guinea, then welcomed the Primate of Alexandria, whose footsteps had brought him to his homeland in Nigeria after twelve years, and thanked him for having, a few days before the convocation of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate and his many responsibilities in Egypt, he decided to be there for his flock in Nigeria to boost the morale of the clergy and people and console them over the excommunication of his Metropolitan.
His Beatitude, addressing clergy from Nigeria, Tongo and Benin, presidents of the Orthodox communities of Tongo and Benin, representatives of youth associations, with words of love and fatherly affection addressed the challenges of the times and the struggle Patriarchate at the heart of Orthodoxy beats throughout Africa, which is the normal, unique and undisputed jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and called on all to remain faithful to the true God and to avoid the northern wolves who try to devour what has been fought and sacrificed. This has been done over the years by humble Greek missionaries who never prioritized nationalism but the salvation of the souls of their African brothers and their contribution to their needs and problems such as poverty and disease. The Patriarch's meeting with the children lasted several hours, after which he was led around the premises of the Holy Metropolis, given instructions on how to continue the work of the Patriarchate in a great and important country, as well as outlining directions to ensure its success.
On the morning of Friday, February 9, Patriarch attended a working breakfast with Mr. Anastasios, Mrs. Louise Leventis and their colleagues in Nigeria and discussed with them the presence of the Patriarchate in Lagos and Abuja. Thereafter, he collaborated with Greek businessmen operating in the country. Notably, Greek companies in Nigeria rank among the highest on the list of foreign companies operating in the country and contributing catalytically to the development of its economy and GDP. He also met with members of the Lebanese Orthodox community.
At noon, His Beatitude hosted a meal for all his clergy, a noble offering of the Mistress of Churches Msgr. Lanas Mandila and presented to the entire clergy the ecclesiastical gifts presented by the All Greek Orthodox Missionary Association of Kipseli and the Porefentes Diorthodox Missionary Center.
Toward evening, the Patriarch visited the city's largest slums and distributed food to the poor and homeless.
Finally, on the occasion of the National Poet Dionysios Solomos Memorial Day and International Greek Language Day, His Holiness announced that Nigeria will very soon have its own Greek school and a center for Hellenistic Studies at the State University.
The next day, the Patriarch traveled to the Cathedral of the Resurrection, where he was received by the Most Holy Clergy of the Holy Metropolis of Nigeria (Nigeria, Tongo and Benin). After the installation of the Glorification, His Beatitude performed the Trisagogy for the repose of the soul of Blessed Metropolitan Mr. Alexander of Nigeria. After the completion of the Trisagion, the Blessed One spoke fondly of the personality of the deceased Saint, of the deceased's long personal friendship from his student days and of his contribution to the Patriarchate in South Africa, Alexandria and for the past 26 years in Nigeria, a project he developed on the foundations built by the Blessed Metropolitan of Accra (later Carthage and Pilus) Mr. Irenaios Talamwekos.
The Observer, Metropolitan George of Guinea, then welcomed the Primate of Alexandria, whose footsteps had brought him to his homeland in Nigeria after twelve years, and thanked him for having, a few days before the convocation of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate and his many responsibilities in Egypt, he decided to be there for his flock in Nigeria to boost the morale of the clergy and people and console them over the excommunication of his Metropolitan.
His Beatitude, addressing clergy from Nigeria, Tongo and Benin, presidents of the Orthodox communities of Tongo and Benin, representatives of youth associations, with words of love and fatherly affection addressed the challenges of the times and the struggle Patriarchate at the heart of Orthodoxy beats throughout Africa, which is the normal, unique and undisputed jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and called on all to remain faithful to the true God and to avoid the northern wolves who try to devour what has been fought and sacrificed. This has been done over the years by humble Greek missionaries who never prioritized nationalism but the salvation of the souls of their African brothers and their contribution to their needs and problems such as poverty and disease. The Patriarch's meeting with the children lasted several hours, after which he was led around the premises of the Holy Metropolis, given instructions on how to continue the work of the Patriarchate in a great and important country, as well as outlining directions to ensure its success.
On the morning of Friday, February 9, Patriarch attended a working breakfast with Mr. Anastasios, Mrs. Louise Leventis and their colleagues in Nigeria and discussed with them the presence of the Patriarchate in Lagos and Abuja. Thereafter, he collaborated with Greek businessmen operating in the country. Notably, Greek companies in Nigeria rank among the highest on the list of foreign companies operating in the country and contributing catalytically to the development of its economy and GDP. He also met with members of the Lebanese Orthodox community.
At noon, His Beatitude hosted a meal for all his clergy, a noble offering of the Mistress of Churches Msgr. Lanas Mandila and presented to the entire clergy the ecclesiastical gifts presented by the All Greek Orthodox Missionary Association of Kipseli and the Porefentes Diorthodox Missionary Center.
Toward evening, the Patriarch visited the city's largest slums and distributed food to the poor and homeless.
Finally, on the occasion of the National Poet Dionysios Solomos Memorial Day and International Greek Language Day, His Holiness announced that Nigeria will very soon have its own Greek school and a center for Hellenistic Studies at the State University.
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