On the morning of Thursday, February 20, 2025, Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa traveled from the city of Lwemiyaga to Gulu, the seat of the Holy Diocese of Gulu. He was accompanied by Metropolitan Ieronymos of Kampala and Orthodox MP Theodore Ssekikubo.
At the city’s helipad, Patriarch Theodore II was welcomed by Bishop Nektarios of Gulu, the Mayor of Gulu, local authorities, Orthodox MP Eleni Nakimuli, Members of Parliament from the Gulu district, the Diocese’s music band, children from the Orthodox school of St. Lawrence, and Orthodox faithful.
Immediately after his arrival, the Patriarch proceeded to the Church of St. Catherine, where he officiated the church’s inauguration, followed by the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, attended by hundreds of faithful.
The Patriarch expressed his gratitude to the church’s founders from America and commended Bishop Nektarios of Gulu for his dedicated work in the region, which had suffered for many years from a devastating civil war that brought widespread destruction and loss of life.
He wished for peace and reconciliation for the benefit of the country and its people and called for an end to the attacks by Rwandan rebels in the Goma region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Additionally, he urged world leaders to prioritize peace in Africa, not only in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
He commended the regional authorities for their support of the Patriarchate’s work, particularly highlighting the contributions of the Orthodox MPs. He also made special mention of the assistance provided to the Diocese by Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece, as well as Metropolitan Symeon of Fthiotida.
A festive meal followed for all attendees. In the evening, Bishop Nektarios of Gulu hosted a dinner in honor of the Patriarch, attended by the clergy and local authorities.
Before the dinner, the Patriarch met with the priests of the Diocese, thanking them for their dedication and strong cooperation with their Bishop.
He encouraged them to continue their mission with unwavering commitment, resisting the efforts of apostate clergy and imported missionaries attempting to undermine the Patriarchate’s presence in the region.
On the morning of Friday, February 21, the Patriarch and his entourage traveled to the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord in the Holy Diocese of Jinja.
After the official reception and the Doxology, the Patriarch performed a Trisagion service for the repose of the souls of the late Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, the founder of the Church, and the late Metropolitans Theodoros and Jonas, who dedicated their entire lives to the missionary work of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
Their efforts gave life and strength to the Orthodox Church in Uganda, elevating it to a position of recognition and acceptance by all the country’s authorities, including the President himself.
It is noteworthy that in this church, Fr. Vadias began his mission alongside the young catechist and current Metropolitan Innocent of Sozousa.
The Patriarch congratulated Bishop Sylvester of Jinja for his work and urged the hundreds of faithful present to cooperate and move forward as one great, blessed family in Christ.
In the afternoon, His Beatitude departed for South Sudan, marking the first time a Patriarch has visited the country. South Sudan, a nation that has endured a devastating war that nearly erased it from the map, is now gradually finding its footing.
At Entebbe Airport, the Patriarch expressed his gratitude to the Egyptian Ambassador for his presence and support. He also asked the Orthodox MPs to convey his thanks to the President of the country for the warm hospitality and continued support.
Lastly, he once again congratulated all the Hierarchs, particularly Metropolitan Ieronymos, whom he had ordained as a Deacon 33 years ago while serving as Bishop of Cyrene.
