Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa arrived in the town of Kisumu, located on the shores of Lake Victoria, on the morning of Tuesday, November 24, 2020.
Kisumu is the capital of Nianza Province, famous for its wildlife and the Ibala and Zebra Shelters. The homonymous Diocese is located in Kisumu.
At the airport, the Patriarch of Alexandria was welcomed by Bishop Markos of Kisumu and West Kenya, the representative of the Governor of the Province, the Police Director of the city, Archimandrite Fr. Apostolos, the nuns of the Holy Monastery of Panagia Triherousa, African priests and faithful.
The Bishop of Kisumu welcomed the Primate of Alexandria and thanked him for defying the pandemic and including Southeastern Kenya in his pastoral visit.
The Patriarch of Alexandria expressed his joy that the Apostle Mark led his steps to Kisumu for the 4th time, recalling the first time he visited the city in 1994 accompanying the then Patriarch Parthenios.
He referred to Bishop Athanasios who passed away so early and now comes to visit another of his spiritual children, a native of Africa, Bishop Markos who is distinguished for his meekness, his simplicity and his philanthropy, emphasizing that he is a worthy clergyman who was nurtured in the Patriarchate of Alexandria and that experience will establish him as a Missionary and a Shepherd.
Then the Patriarch of Alexandria met with the holy clergy of the Diocese, numbering about 80 clergymen, gave paternal advice and instructions and discussed with them issues related to their missionary activities, emphasizing, among other things, that they are authentic children of the Alexandrian Church which is and will always be by their side. Then the Patriarch of Alexandria went to the tomb of the blessed Bishop Athanasios and performed a memorial service.
Then the Patriarch went to the offices of the Diocese, blessed the premises and in the Chapel of the Diocese, deeply moved, performed a memorial service for the repose of the blessed Metropolitan of Aksum Petros Giakoumelos. Addressing the audience, the Patriarch of Alexandria referred to the great personality of the late Metropolitan Petros, who served the Patriarchate for many decades. With tears in his eyes he referred to the day he handed him the keys of the Patriarchate and the day of his enthronement the Patriarchal tiara.
Finally, the Patriarch distributed gifts to the priests and food to the women, who in an atmosphere of joy sang African hymns to thank their Patriarch for the gifts.
Afterwards, the Prelate of Alexandria went to the Holy Monastery of Panagia Triherousa, where he was warmly welcomed by the spiritual father and founder of the Monastery, Fr. Apostolos, Abbess Anthousa and her entourage. In the Katholikon of the Monastery, a prayer was said on the arrival of the Patriarch and the Vespers service was officiated for the feast of St. Catherine.
The Patriarch referred to the life of the Alexandrian Saint and thanked Fr. Apostolos and his entourage who left their homeland, Crete, and settled in the depths of central Africa to help their fellow humans.
Afterwards, the Patriarch visited the construction sites of the Monastery, blessed the good works of the fraternity and wished that the opening day would come soon. He also visited the Orthodox Schools next to the Monastery and spoke paternally to the students of the last grade of High School who are preparing for their final exams, giving them hope for tomorrow and for a new beginning that will come after the pandemic.
Finally, a treat was offered and thus the program of the day was completed with so many blessings and unique experiences, life experiences, missionary experiences, experiences of the early Christian era.
The Patriarch was accompanied on his tour in Kisumu by the Metropolitans of Nairobi Makarios and of Guinea George and the Bishops of Nyeri Neophytos and of Gulu Silvester.
Source: Patriarchate of Alexandria