On Saturday, November 28, Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria visited Archbishop of Cyprus Makarios III Patriarchal Seminary in Riruta. He met those in charge of the Association of the African Orthodox Church in Archontariki of the Seminary, who manage the traditional affairs of the Orthodox Church in Kenya.
During the meeting, the Patriarch called on the Elders to work with their Bishops with unity and love for the sake of the church; the former with their experience in matters of tradition and the latter with their church experience and jurisdiction, emphasizing that all problems can be solved provided that the proper procedures will be followed and the motivation for a fair and constructive solution is the good of the Church and its members. He also informed them that the plot of the Patriarchate next to the Cathedral of Saints Anargyroi will soon be utilized, which will effectively contribute to meeting the liturgical needs of the parishes in Kenya.
The Patriarch then visited the Church of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Eirini in the Togoto area and offered a memorial service at the tomb of the late Bishop of Nitria, Georgios Gkadounas, the pioneer Bishop in the struggle for Kenya’s independence.
Addressing the priests present, the Patriarch referred to the remarkable missionary activity of the late hierarch in Kenya and the solid foundations he laid for the Orthodox Church.
The Patriarch’s tour in Kenya ended with a meeting with Egyptian Ambassador Mahmoud Ali Talaat. The ambassador of Egypt expressed his joy at meeting the Patriarch in Kenya and stressed that it was a great blessing for him to welcome him to the House of Egypt.
The Patriarch, in turn, thanked the ambassador for his love and asked him to convey to the President of Egypt his thanks and blessings with wishes for the success of the blessed work he carries out for the benefit of his country and for the peaceful coexistence of the peoples of the region.