A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY
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| Volume 6 Number 13 - Tuesday, March 30th, 2004 |
A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY |
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The Orthodox Christian News Service |
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Madagascar Receives its First-Ever Pastoral Visit by the Patriarch of AlexandriaThe Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), St. Augustine, FL - His Beatitude Petros VII, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, made his first pastoral visit to the island country of Madagascar in February 2004. Hundreds of new Orthodox Christians were blessed with this momentous opportunity to meet their spiritual leader. The Patriarch’s visit was an important milestone for this young and quickly growing diocese of the Orthodox Church in Africa. His Grace Nectarios, Bishop of Madagascar, in welcoming His Beatitude said, “It is the first time that the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa honors, blesses and sanctifies this newly planted vine of Christ with his presence, and that is why the hours that we are living are truly historic.” Many important events occurred throughout the Patriarch’s two-week stay in Madagascar, an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Mozambique and Tanzania. Churches were sanctified, medical clinics were opened, schools were visited and foundation stones were laid for churches, a seminary, schools, mission centers and an orphanage. His Beatitude brought encouragement and gratitude to all the faithful for their contribution to the growth and work of the Church, especially the Bishop, catechists and priests, 12 of whom are supported by OCMC’s Support A Mission Priest (SAMP) program. The first Patriarchal Divine Liturgy in Antananarivo, the capital city, gathered hundreds from all over the country. The Patriarch visited not only the capital city but also small villages in the interior of the island, in order to meet the faithful and offer guidance to the local clergy. Travel to these villages meant a twelve-hour journey on narrow roads over rivers and waterfalls through lush vegetation and rice plantations while braving bad weather, including the cusp of a cyclone.
The media covered
the Patriarch’s visit extensively, including the
press and government and privately owned
television stations. His Beatitude was welcomed by
and met with many political leaders, including the
Prime Minister, Governors, Mayors and Ambassadors.
His Beatitude publicly thanked the Prime Minister
for the hospitality he received and, most of all,
for the protection which is given to the Orthodox
Church in Madagascar. |
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