His Beatitude did not conceal his joy for this unprecedented, unprecedented, reception accorded to him by the faithful people of Accra, emphasizing in particular the spiritual role of the Patriarchate and the untiring interest of both himself and the Metropolitan concerned, together with his associates, clergy and laity.
Such a mission needed a bold call and vision. Missionary work up to that time had only been done on the African continent. In Latin America, Orthodoxy was something unknown, remote and confined to the East. With patience and perseverance the Metropolitan opened the door giving us the opportunity to know and recognize that Orthodoxy is not a national Christian denomination but the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ….
