Metropolitan Nikodemos of Nigeria, always bearing the paternal blessings, prayers, and steadfast support of Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa, carried out a pastoral visit on Saturday, February 28, and Sunday, March 1, 2026, to the Orthodox Communities of Imo and Anambra States, culminating in the celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy.
On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, at the Orthodox Community of the Archangel Michael in Uli, Ihiala (Anambra State), the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in an atmosphere of reverence and spiritual joy. The missionary priests, silent and humble workers of the Gospel, stood beside their Shepherd with devotion, while hundreds of faithful children, youth, and families participated actively in the liturgical gathering. Their living presence was the most genuine testimony that faith is transmitted as lived experience and as a shared journey.
The Feast of Orthodoxy, a day of confession and unity, acquired tangible meaning through common prayer and the harmony between clergy and people. His Eminence’s presence was not merely ceremonial, but truly pastoral. It became an encounter of persons, a strengthening of communities, and a confirmation that the Church is built upon relationship, cooperation, and sacrificial ministry.
On the previous day, His Eminence visited the Orthodox Community of Saint John Chrysostom in Umuofor Owu-Amakohia, in the Ikeduru area (Imo State), where he received a warm welcome. Orthodox and Roman Catholic faithful, local leaders, priests, and religious sisters participated in a spirit of respect and peaceful coexistence. The presence of children and young people offered particular hope, reminding all that the future of the Church is founded upon sound catechesis and the living experience of community.
Within the context of this visit, at the initiative of Fr. Chrysostom Onyekakeyah, who serves in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America as Mission and Outreach Development Project Coordinator, a memorial service was offered at the grave of his late mother, located within the grounds of the Regina Memorial Hospital (RMH). This was followed by an update on the progress of the project and a guided tour of the Hospital facilities.
Special reference should be made to the Regina Memorial Hospital, which constitutes a source of hope for Umuofor Owu-Amakohia and the surrounding villages, and also a work of substantial importance for the Holy Archdiocese of Nigeria, as no other organized medical institution exists in the wider region. Fr. Chrysostom, through personal sacrifices and a profound sense of responsibility, works tirelessly toward the completion of this significant project, which is intended to serve thousands of residents in the broader area and to contribute meaningfully to addressing their healthcare needs. Structurally completed, it already stands as a point of reference for the entire region, with the purpose of offering tangible relief and becoming a living expression of the Church’s care for the human person.
These days demonstrated that when parishes remain united in the true faith and in fraternal support, the Holy Metropolis of Nigeria is strengthened and confirmed as a living and active cell of the Patriarchate of Alexandria. Pastoral presence does not exhaust itself in events and ceremonies, but is transformed into a steady witness of faith, responsibility, and practical love, giving meaning and direction to the journey of the Church.
Source: Metropolis of Nigeria
