June 9, 2015
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”, reports the website of the Orthodox Missionary Fraternity.
The Prelate of the Alexandrian Church was zealously received by His Eminence Metropolitan Ignatios of Madagascar, all the clergy and pious people of Malagasy. He was also accompanied on his tour by 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. The Orthodox Missionary Fraternity has through its supporters' donations been a financial partner of the project.
On his tour the Patriarch also participated in the congregation of the Malagasy Orthodox priests, met with the students of the Orthodox Seminary of Ampany, and visited the Presidential Palace, where he talked with the President of Madagascar Hery Rajaonarimampianina on the work of the Orthodox Mission. His Beatitude inaugurated the Entrance of the Theotokos church in Andoharanoftsy, and opened the first Malagasy Orthodox University in Manakara, along with 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 around the region.
