As published in the media, the 20th World Conference of Diaspora Cypriots in Nicosia is taking place in Nicosia these days.
During this conference, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Anastasiadis, presented Metropolitan Makarios of Nairobi with the Medal for Exceptional Contribution, who was awarded the honour among other prominent figures of the Cypriot Diaspora.
The Metropolitan thanked the president for this award. In his speech, the Metropolitan stated, “Obeying the wish of the late Ethnarch, Archbishop Makarios III, I accepted to travel and stay for a short period.
The trip to Kenya, the so-called Third World, prove to be something more. The drought kills people and animals there, especially little ones who will not survive in famine-afflicted countries.
Our Metropolis could not turn a deaf ear and close the eyes to this tragedy.
What I receive is beneficial to the soul. I get most of it from children, because happiness is in their heart, in their eyes.
The Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa, under the supervision of our Patriarch Theodore, carries out a significant charitable, social, medical and educational work, with the operation of many orphanages, schools, clinics, institutions etc.”