The Greek Schools of Zimbabwe visited by Patriarch of Alexandria
On Monday, 25 November 2024, the Feast of the Great Alexandrian Martyr St. Catherine, His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa, who was celebrating his 70th birthday, presided over the Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of the Dormition of the Theotokos in the residence of Ariadne Psyllou, a prominent benefactor of the Church. This is the same place where St. Euterpe rests.
After the Divine Liturgy, the Patriarch expressed his gratitude to Mrs. Psyllou and her family for their dedicated care and reverence in maintaining the blessed and beautifully decorated chapel, as well as for their long-standing support of the missionary and charitable work of the Patriarchate.
The Patriarch then visited the Hellenic School and the Hellenic Academy, where more than a thousand students are currently enrolled. The young people warmly welcomed the Patriarch, who was accompanied by His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Zimbabwe, Mr. Giannis Economou, President of the Greek Community of Harare, Mr. Andreas Raptopoulos, the Community’s representative for the smooth running of the schools, Mrs. Ellou Koumidou, a prominent figure in the Cypriot Diaspora, Father George Saganis and Mr. Panicos Leontiou, President of the Greek Community of Bulawayo.
The Principals of the Hellenic Academy, Mrs. Suzanne Jocelyn, and the Hellenic School, Mrs. Lisa Rickard, together with the visiting Greek educator, Mr. Nikos Sarris, welcomed the Primate of Alexandria to the rooms where the heart of the Hellenic education beats. They showed him the newly built wing with modern classrooms and new sports facilities.
The Patriarch admired these new additions but was even more impressed by the children’s fluency in Greek and their love for the land of their ancestors. He then prayed at the Church of Panagia Chrysomyrousa, built within the Academy through the efforts of Metropolitans Seraphim and George, donors from Potamitissa and Limassol in Cyprus, the family of Zenon Koukounaris, and other members of the community.
At noon, the Patriarch was the guest of honour at a reception hosted by the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, Dr. Jassin Mohamed Al-Qasimi, on the occasion of the National Day of the United Arab Emirates. He cut the commemorative cake alongside Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sibusiso Moyo, and addressed the assembled ambassadors, government and political officials, business leaders, and other distinguished guests. The Ambassador of the UAE and the Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe warmly welcomed the Primate of Alexandria and thanked him for his honourable presence at the celebrations in the UAE and Zimbabwe, inviting him to bless the two nations and their people.
In his brief response, the Patriarch thanked the hosts for their honour and affection, recalled the history of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and emphasised to the representatives of 160 countries the importance of interreligious dialogue for peaceful coexistence and the protection of human rights. He concluded by thanking God for allowing him to visit once again the beautiful land of Zimbabwe, wishing peace and prosperity to the two nations, and calling on all world leaders to follow Egypt’s example in preserving Christian sites and promoting peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in the land that hosted the Holy Family, the Apostle Mark, the Desert Fathers, and a multitude of saints of the Orthodox Church.
Source: orthodoxtimes.com
