During the past months of May and June he visited the I. In May and May of this year, the reverend Primate of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa, Mr. Theodore, visited our diocese here in Madagascar. The programme he followed was admittedly quite exhausting, as he wanted to cover as wide a range of visits to his beloved flock as possible in his few days in our country, ignoring costs, circumstances and personal physical fatigue. On the afternoon of Friday, June 5, His Beatitude our Patriarch arrived in Tuliar, the capital of the wider region of the southern part of the country, where, by the grace of the all-powerful God, missionary work is being carried out. There he was warmly welcomed by an able and zealous organisation, whose agents were all the clergy and people of Tuliar. In the St. Andrew’s Cathedral he was welcomed by the Archchancellor of St. Andrew’s Cathedral. He was welcomed by the Archbishop of the Metropolis, in the presence of Mons. Our Metropolitan Ignatius, in the local language, while the crowds of the faithful accompanied the welcome speech with applause as a sign of their enthusiasm and love for the person of our Most Reverend Primate.
In Touliar he inaugurated the new wing of the Betanimena Orthodox Clinic, which was built with the donation of an anonymous donor from Greece and the general care of Hieromonk Anastasios from Cyprus, who with Cypriot donors supports the full coverage of the clinic both in medicines and equipment. It is a project which relieves the suffering of the poor people of our region, since with a minimal contribution from the patients it provides diagnosis and treatment to our suffering patients. This was followed by festivities during which His Beatitude our Patriarch was addressed by the local government officials, who accompanied him throughout his visit to our city and who expressed many times their warm thanks to him and to the Orthodox Mission in general for their presence and their concern for the poor of the South. The events culminated with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. The celebrations began with the celebration of the Holy Mass in the closed stadium of the city of Tuliar, where a large number of clergy, representatives of the authorities, representatives of our churches and faithful, sang and praised God in the first outdoor Patriarchal Mass in Southern Madagascar. It was one of the most touching moments when the reverend Primate of our Patriarchate cheered the crowds of faithful who attended the Mass. Mass with devotion from the stands of the stadium. The Patriarch was angry and blessed the people, the stadium, our faithful, the clergy, our city…
The journey of our Great Primate is now coming to an end. Now we are sitting with Him near the sea, where the famous Mozambique Channel unites with its wild waves our world, the land of Madagascar, with the other related and troubled world of Mozambique, the land of Africa. His eyes gaze upon the ocean. Sometimes they weep and get lost in thought. Sometimes they come alive and with the serene smile of His face, they speak to you. They speak to you of tomorrow. For the vision. Of expectation. He turns to one of those present and with a deep and heavy tone in his voice he opens the long and final address. Not from a reed paper, but from a bible of the heart. A big heart, full of love and pain for his fellow man.
My son! – she says to him. Please take care of these people! Take care of the poor in the desert regions of Tuliar. Take care of the faithful of our cities. Make our church shine in this city. Forget everything else, any other possibility in your life and give yourself totally to the ministry of this poor world.
My child!… Water my sheep! And baptize with patience and love always this Cross. A cross whose roots are rooted in our Greek royal. The basil that carries our ancient roots. The roots of Orthodoxy. The roots of Faith, Hope and Love in this poor world.
But above all, of Love. A Love that did not hesitate nor does it hesitate to give its blood for its brother and fellow man. Look at the predecessor of the Prefecture of this Holy Metropolis. And remember forever this name: Nectarios! There in the deep waters of Mount Athos he died and gave his martyr’s blood in his last mission in this world. His blessings follow you and his life forever illuminates you! But know, my child, that you are always followed by the blessings of a patriarch! Don’t go, my son! “Hey, kiss me, cherish my harness. “Pray for my sheep… And behold, I am with you all the days of your life…” My son! I’m going back to Alexandria. But my wishes and prayers remain with you forever. My children! I remember you forever in my prayers. May God and Our Lady be with you.”
Jer. Polycarp Agiannanitis
