10 years have passed since Sunday, February 20, 2011. Sunday of the Prodigal son, when Maputo, the beautiful capital of distant Mozambique, officially welcomed the new Bishop of Mozambique, John of Zakynthos.
He was solemnly welcomed there. Representatives of the Government were present but also representatives of the Roman Catholics, the Anglicans, the Muslims, who in fact addressed warm greetings to the Bishop in an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation for the common good of the local community in the country.
Moreover, the new Bishop was welcomed by the Government Spokesman and Deputy Minister of Justice, the Governor of Maputo, the Ambassador of Egypt Sayed El Santawi, the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Andrey V. Kemarsky, and the President of the Islamic Council Sheik Amenodim Muhamad.
Members of the Mozambican National Parliament, led by Greek MP Georgio Antonio Fragoulis and of the Greek Consul in Zambia Christos Spairon were also present.
Congratulatory messages were sent by the Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Dolis, the Vice President of the European Parliament, Rodi Tsagaropoulou-Kratsa, and the Secretary of the Interparliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy.
Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Zakynthos presided over the Hierarchal Con-liturgy. Many people from South Africa, from Greece, Christians of other nationalities, such as Russians, Bulgarians, Serbs, Ethiopians of Mozambique, gathered at the Church of the Holy Archangels to congratulate Bishop John of Mozambique.
Finally, the Metropolis of Zambia wished him a long and blessed life: “May God give you patience, enlightenment and love.”
