Την ικανοποίησή του για το ιεραποστολικό έργο που επιτελείται τα τελευταία χρόνια στο Μαλάουι εξέφρασε η ΑΘΜ ο Πάπας και Πατριάρχης Αλεξανδρείας και πάσης Αφρικής κ.κ.Θεόδωρος Β’ επισκεπτόμενος ένα νεοανεγειρόμενο ναό και θεμελιώνοντας έναν ακόμη.
Την Παρασκευή, 14η Οκτωβριου ε.ε, ο Αλεξανδρινός Προκαθήμενος θεμελίωσε τον υπό ανέγερση Ιερό Ναό της Γεννήσεως της Θεοτόκου στο Μπλαντάιαρ , δεύτερη μεγαλύτερη πόλη της χώρας του Μαλάουι.
Ο Μακαριώτατος προσέφερε σταυρό στον Σεβ.Μητροπολίτη Ζάμπιας και Μαλάουι κ.Ιωακείμ για να τον τοποθετήσει στην Αγία Τράπεζα όταν θα ολοκληρωθεί η εκκλησία.
Στη συνέχεια, ο Μακαριώτατος πραγματοποίησε δενδροφύτευση στον υπό ανέγερση μεγάλο Ναό της Αγίας Τριάδος, επίσης στο Μπλαντάιαρ, κατόπιν θερμής υποδοχής από τους ντόπιους ορθόδοξους κατοίκους της πόλης.
Κατά την ομιλία Του ευχαρίστησε όλους όσοι συμβάλουν στο ιεραποστολικό έργο και κυρίως τόνισε την επιθυμία του να κτίζεται δίπλα από κάθε εκκλησία και ένα σχολείο, καθώς και ιατρείο και πηγάδι για τις ανάγκες των ντόπιων.
Ευχήθηκε δε ο Θεός να δίνει δύναμη ιδιαίτερα στον οικείο Μητροπολίτη, Σεβ. κ.Ιωακείμ και τον π.Ερμόλαο Ιατρό να συνεχίσουν αυτό το θεάρεστο έργο.
Τέλος, ο Μακ.Πατριάρχης μετέβη στο Νεκροταφείο της πόλης όπου ετέλεσε μνημόσυνο για τους Έλληνες του Μπλαντάιαρ που αναπαύονται πλέον εκεί.
His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa expressed his satisfaction on the missionary work which has been done in the recent past in Malawi, while visiting the site of a new church under construction and laying the foundation stone for another.
On Friday 14th October 2011, the Alexandrian Primate laid the foundation stone of the Holy Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos which is being built in Blantyre, the second largest city in Malawi. His beatitude gave His Eminence Ioakeim a cross to be placed on the Holy Altar when the church is completed.
His Beatitude then went on to plant trees in the grounds of the Church of the Holy Trinity which is under construction, also in Blantyre, following a warm welcome from by the local Orthodox faithful.
In his address he thanked all who contribute to the missionary effort and stressed his wish that each church when built should have adjacent to it school, as well as a clinic and a water well for the needs of the local population. He prayed that God would grant strength particularly to the local Hierarch His Eminence Ioakeim, and to Fr Ermolaos Iatrou, so that they can continue their work which is pleasing to God.
His Beatitude then went to the cemetery where he conducted the Memorial Service for the Greeks of Blantyre who have been laid to rest there.
( http://www.patriarchateofalexandria.com/index.php?module=news&action=details&id=685 )
Greek and African Orthodox Christians of Malawi enthusiastically welcomed His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa on 12th October 2011 at the Blantyre Airport; HB is on his first pastoral trip to Malawi as Primate of the Second Throne Church.
At the airport His Beatitude, accompanied by His Grace Nikodimos, Bishop of Nitria and Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo and the Press Officer Mr Nicholas Katsikas, was welcomed by His Eminence Ioakeim of Zambia and Malawi, His Grace Ioannis Bishop of Mozambique, together with many members of the Hellenic Community of Malawi. Among them was the Honorary Consul of Cyprus in Malawi Mr Michael Michael, the Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Malawi Mr Nicholas Yiannakis, and the Chairman of the Hellenic Schools of Malawi, Mr Ioannis Nicolaou.
Immediately following his arrival was the official Doxology in the beautiful church of St Nektarios in Blantyre. Addressing the congregation His beatitude spoke of the kindness and nobility of the Greek Community since the time when he served there as Metropolitan of Zimbabwe, as well as of their warm and generous hospitality and thanked all for the warm welcome of the “few but select”, as he said, of the 150 Greeks who have remained in the city.
The Alexandrian Primate warmly congratulated His Eminence Ioakeim, Metropolitan of Zambia and Malawi, on the significant work which he done in Malawi, this country which is small in size but enormous in importance.
He also spoke about St Nektarios as it is to his name that the church in the city is dedicated and which will be inaugurated next Sunday, 16th October 2011.
The city of Blantyre in Malawi has 8 orthodox churches, a translation centre and printing press office for the translation and publication of ecclesiastical books into the local dialect (Chichewa), 5 nursery schools, a clinic, doctor’s rooms, 5 libraries and, under present construction, a new high school which should be completed within a few months.
( http://www.patriarchateofalexandria.com/index.php?module=news&action=details&id=683 )
On 13th October 2011, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa conducted the Service of the Inauguration of the Holy Church of the resurrection of the Lord, in the city of Blantyre in Malawi.
The event was celebrated by the faithful with local traditional dances and songs, as a significant change in an area which was once a place of illegal conduct, as was emphasized by the Honourable Minister of Malawi, Mr Felix N’ Djaoula, who represented parliament at the event.
Also, the Police Chief in the area Mr Mazonga, who represented the Security Forces of the country, maintained that in this place “there is salvation”, while the local tribal leader Mr Magasa said that “this church is the most beautiful in the area” and thanked the Patriarchate of Alexandria for the great gift which it has given to the people of Malawi.
Truly, the magnificent church of the Resurrection impresses, with the school buildings of the Metropolis which operates adjacent to the Church with over 200 pupils. There is also a translation centre and printing office nearby for the local church, where to date more than 100 various (essentially ecclesiastical) publications have been issued in Chichewa, the local dialect. There is also a clinic for the needs of the indigenous people.
“This Church and all the other buildings were made for you, the children of Malawi”, the Patriarch told the young people who had filled the area. His Beatitude was accompanied on this visit by the local Metropolitan, His Eminence Ioakeim of Zambia and Malawi, His Grace Ioannis Bishop of Mozambique and His Grace Nikodimos Bishop of Nitria.
The building of the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord in Blantyre, which is also the missionary centre of the area, began in 2009, when the Metropolitan of Zambia secured the ownership of the area.
The Minister who represented Parliament expressed the view that it would be good if the church area could be extended even more. The Alexandrian Primate promised that he would do whatever possible to develop the area, by building a hospital there.
He also expressed his enormous satisfaction at being in Malawi beside his flock whom he served up until his election to the Patriarchal Throne of St Mark, as Metropolitan of Zimbabwe, a country small in size but enormous in importance. He also thanked His Eminence Metropolitan Ioakeim of Zambia for the works and activites he has developed in the area, and also thanked the Hierarchal Vicar of Malawi, Fr Ermolaos Iatrou, and the holy clergy.
( http://www.patriarchateofalexandria.com/index.php?module=news&action=details&id=684 )
Ανταπόκριση : Ν. Κάτσικας, N. Katsikas.
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