Dear brothers
of the Orthodox Foreign Missionary Brotherhood of Thessaloniki, I would like to inform you that the process of purchasing a piece of land measuring 200mX200m, in the Eyaen area of Benin city, Nigeria, has been completed. The money has been paid to the owner and we are in the process of signing the contracts and taking care of all the legal requirements. We again express our gratitude for your support and the prospects you have opened up for the establishment of a major Missionary Centre in the future at this site. We express our sincere thanks for the kind offer by the Brotherhood of dozens of books of theological content in English and French. The books reached their recipients, the priests of our Metropolis and our seminarians, who express their deep gratitude. In the work of evangelization, as you know, our Catechists also play an important role. It is important that they too continue to study in order to improve their work. They are 40 people. Remember them, please, if and when the opportunity arises with 2-3 books for all and God willing. I am sending you the most recent photos of the progress of the construction of St. Christopher’s Church. I think it is being done well and the Church will be a jewel for the area. The first Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the newly established parish of St. Charalambos; the Orthodox congregation is 200 people and there are a large number of catechumens. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the open air, in a non-existent Church and then the foundation of the Church of the Saint was laid.
We also made a pastoral visit to the parish of St. Christopher. This was followed by a Divine Liturgy in the old building used as a church and then the closing of the school year with a program by the school children (261 kindergarten and primary school students, 7 teachers / free attendance and teacher salaries from Metropolis). Next to the school, the Church of the Great Martyr St. Christopher is being built at the expense of the Brotherhood. Once again I express to you all our gratitude for the always willing support of our efforts.
With much love
Metropolitan Alexander of Nigeria
