Also present were the Consul General of Greece in Alexandria Mr. Athanasios Kotsionis, the Chairmen of the Hellenic Communities of Cairo and Alexandria Messrs. Christos Kavalis and Edmond Kasimatis, agents and Associations of the City of Alexandria and a large number of believers. During the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude performed the ordination to the Diaconate of the Arabic-speaking Monk Parthenius Elnagar, while on the feast day His Eminence Metropolitan Nikidimos of Memphis, Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo gave the address.
In his reply, His Beatitude, once again moved and in tears, touched upon the issue of Migration, and embraced with his mind and heart those people who wished to avoid the injustice of war and all that it entailed, go as far as to sacrifice their lives, turning the waters of the Mediterranean into a “tomb for a drop of freedom”. Taking the opportunity from the presence of the Lyceum Club of Greek Women from Florina, who came to commemorate with their presence the anniversary of the Alexandrian Primate, he referred to our always Greek Macedonia, from which the Patriarch himself draws his origins, from his mother’s side.
In the afternoon of the same day the Holy and Sacred Synod continued its deliberations. At the start, His Beatitude awarded the medal of Supreme Commander of the Order of St Savvas, for those who this year had completed 10 years of hierarchical ministry, Their Eminences the Metropolitans Savvas of Nubia and Niphon of Pilousion. Thereafter the Holy Metropolis of Madagascar, following the establishment of the Holy Diocese of Toliara and South Madagascar, was renamed the “Holy Metropolis of Antananarivo and Northern Madagascar”, while the Holy Diocese of Bukoba was re-established for pastoral reasons, with His Grace Agathonikos Bishop of Arusha undertaking the responsibilities of locum tenens. Also, another new Ecclesiastical Province of the Throne was established, under the title of Holy Diocese of Eldoret in Kenya.
Thereafter, following the appointment of His Eminence Narcissus of Accra to the position of active Synodal Metropolitan of Naucratis, Most Honoured and Exarch of the Nile lands of Egypt, keeping the position of Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria, the Very Reverend Petros Parginos was appointed as Metropolitan of Accra and the Very Reverend Markos Theodosi as Provincial Bishop of Kisumu. In conclusion Archimandrite Germanos Galanis was elected as Bishop of Tamiathus beside His Beatitude.
The session was completed with the recommendation of His Grace Sylvester Bishop of Goulou on the subject: Pastoral treatment of the issue of Magic in African countries ".
Bishop of Goulou Sylvester (from here)
With the recommendation of His Grace Prodromos, Bishop of Toliara, "Proposed applications of modern technology in the practice of Ecclesiastical work in African continent today", as well as the adoption of the text of the Synodal Declaration against violence, the deliberations of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria were completed today 10th October, 2019.
The Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Theodoros II, concluded the deliberations of the Holy Synod, expressing his gratitude to all the Hierarchs of the Apostolic Throne of St. Mark for their sacrificial pastoral work on the African continent, but also his gratitude for the supportive love which they always show him during the undertaking of his multi-responsible duties. Shortly before the end of the Session, His Beatitude briefed the Hierarchy on the telephone communication he had with His Beatitude Ioannis, Patriarch of Antioch, to whom he expressed support, both from himself and from the Holy Synod for the new ordeal, which has broken out in the area of his jurisdiction.
His Beatitude then hosted a farewell lunch in the Great Patriarchal Refectory in honour of the Honorable Members of the Holy Synod.
SYNODAL DECLARATION AGAINST VIOLENCE
At a time which boasts of its scientific and technological achievements, the observation of the disparagement and exploitation of humans by humans, stigmatize all of humanity. It is inconceivable to boast that we have progressed so scientifically, and that we tend to be indifferent to the justice of man, to his fellow man, to his fellow man. It is inconceivable to boast that we have progressed so scientifically, and yet we tolerate or tend to be indifferent to the injustice of man, to his fellow man, to violence, to crime, to any form of exploitation.
The journey of mankind without God, having set as a priority the material or narrow self-centered profit, does not only negate the Gospel, but these days tends to breakdown all moral value, setting as the antithesis of the Gospel words “God is love”, the words “the other is my hell”.
It is inconceivable, with the pretext of various beliefs, religions, genders, colors and profits, that man is capable of violence against man.
Bearing a long tradition as the oldest bearers of the word of the Gospel in Africa and having a lengthy experience in our Pastoral and sacrificial service in North Africa, from the Horn of Maghreb on the equator and the so-called Dark Africa to the Cape of Good Hope, we have walked through wars, riots, discrimination, civil wars and violations of elementary human rights, many of them, and in many ways, some not even self-explanatory in some areas.
Bearing the sacred duty of the ministry of people and knowing from within the weight, the pain and the wounds of the Cross and the Resurrection dimension, we denounce all forms of violence and injustice from wherever they emanate, and we journey together in deep sadness and, of course , hope, about the course the world has taken and the return of all the good that is promised us.
Knowing in fact that even in the worst situations there is a remnant of humanity, we address that remnant and give it space, the space in our hearts and our prayers, for it to bloom and multiply. We call every person of good will to journey with us in this effort, so that peace may prevail and justice, humanity and respect for life may reign in all mankind.
