At dawn on Saturday, February 15, 2025, Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa arrived in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, located in the heart of East Africa, where the Mission has been thriving for the past two centuries. It is a place where Greek missionaries labored tirelessly, with many even sacrificing their lives for Christ and Orthodoxy.
Greek missionaries who were sanctified, such as Saint Gabriel the Missionary, laid the foundations of charitable institutions, Orthodox schools, hospitals, and orphanages. Among them were Archbishop Makarios III of Cyprus, Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, Fr. Athanasios Anthidis, Metropolitan Nikodimos Galiatsatos, Fr. Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos, Fr. Amfilochios Tsoukos (now Metropolitan of Ganos and Chora), and many others who have etched their names in the history of the Orthodox Church in Kenya with golden letters—never with silver treachery and mockery.
The Patriarch was welcomed at the airport by the Ambassador of Egypt, Wael Nasreldin Attiya, the Consul General of Egypt, Metropolitans Makarios of Nairobi and Dimitrios of Irinoupolis, Bishops Neophytos of Eldoret, Markos of Kisumu, and Panaretos of Nyeri, as well as Greek businessman Kostas Giannakopoulos from Tanzania.
In the afternoon of the same day, the Patriarch presided over the Vespers Service at the Cathedral of Saints Anargyroi, where the students of the Patriarchal Seminary of Riruta chanted. In his speech, the Patriarch thanked God for guiding his steps back to Kenya, at a time when humanity is shaken by social, natural, and climatic turbulence. He also noted that this visit comes at a time when the Patriarchate is under attack by a sister Church that has exceeded its canonical jurisdiction, expressing concern for the Church of Africa instead of focusing on its own flock.
He congratulated the students of the Patriarchal Seminary for their devout chanting, as well as the Orthodox faithful present, who stand in solidarity with their Patriarch, their Bishops, and their Priests.
In the courtyard of the Cathedral, students performed traditional songs, followed by afternoon tea, a custom influenced by British culture, which was also passed down to Kenya.
Afterward, the Patriarch held a meeting with the relevant hierarchs, attended by Metropolitans Demetrios of Guinea and Dimitrios of Irinoupolis.
This gathering was the first of several meetings scheduled in the coming days. During the session, the Patriarch was briefed on the progress of the Patriarchate’s work in Kenya, listened to the concerns of the Bishops, addressed challenges, and provided initial guidance and admonitions.
