With great joy, Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa, welcomed today, February 11, 2025, a group of pilgrims from the Church of Serbia, led by Hierodeacon Vasileios Mpoursats, Director of the Office of Religious Tourism of the Serbian Patriarchate.
During the meeting, the Patriarch spoke about the history of the Alexandrian Church, its extensive missionary work across the African continent, and the challenges that arise in this endeavor.
Furthermore, he spoke with deep emotion about the great spiritual figures of the late Patriarchs, bishops, monks, and distinguished theologians of the Serbian Church, whose remarkable writings he had studied since his youth and whom he had the blessing to meet personally.
In conclusion, he extended fraternal well-wishes to Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia and expressed his love for the devout Serbian people.
In his response, Hierodeacon Vasileios Mpoursats thanked the Patriarch for the warm reception and conveyed the shared enthusiasm of all present for the tireless missionary, humanitarian, charitable, and educational work of the Second-Throne Church in 21st-century Africa. He also expressed the love of the Serbian Primate, His Holiness Porfirije.
Following this, the group of pilgrims toured the premises of the Patriarchal See.
On the same day, the Patriarch received a visit from Bishop Joseph of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
The Bishop spoke about his pastoral ministry to Coptic Orthodox communities in the four countries under his spiritual jurisdiction—Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and Malawi.
Additionally, in his capacity as a pediatrician, he discussed plans for establishing healthcare structures, sincerely requesting the Patriarchal blessing and support for the success of these initiatives.
In closing, the Bishop conveyed to the Patriarch the brotherly love and greetings of Patriarch Tawadros II of the Coptic Church.
The Patriarch of Alexandria, after elaborating on ideas and ways of cooperation for the development of healthcare initiatives to benefit the suffering African brethren, thanked him for his visit. He extended heartfelt greetings to the Coptic Patriarch, emphasizing in particular the centuries-long peaceful spiritual journey of the two Churches in the blessed land of the Nile.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
