On June 7, His Beatitude Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa completed his ten-day-long missionary tour in Madagascar, the “eighth continent.”
The Prelate of the Alexandrian Church was zealously received by His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatios of Madagascar, the whole clergy and the pious people of Malagasy. Along his tour, he was also accompanied my the nuns of Panagia Theogennetria convent from Crete, Greece, who are paying a visit to Madagascar to institute monasticism in the country.
During his visit, the Patriarch inaugurated a new Girls’ Orphanage in Andoharanofotsy, which will shelter 200 destitute and orphaned children. The construction of this foundation has been a concern and dream of Metropolitan Ignatios for many years, since many babies are abandoned in the streets by their parents, who are unable to feed them due to poverty. Our Fraternity thanks to your help has been a financial partner of the project.
Moreover, the Patriarch participated in the congregation of the Malagasy Orthodox priests, met with the students of the Orthodox Seminary of Ampany, while he also visited the Presidential Palace, where he talked with the President of Madagascar Hery Rajaonarimampianina on the manifold work of the Orthodox Mission. Furthermore, His Beatitude inaugurated the Entrance of the Theotokos church in Andoharanoftsy, opened the first Malagasy Orthodox University in Manakara, as well as a new Primary and Middle School in Ampany.
Finally, he visited Toliara, where he inaugurated a medical clinic in the parish of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, which will provide medical care for free to the children of the region, and consecrated the Saint Irene church. On the last day, he conducted the Divine Liturgy in the sports stadium of Toliara, which was attended by thousands of faithful from along the region.
