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| OrthoNews... |
 Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:57 pm |
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http://www.orthodoxalbania.org/English/News%20and%20Publications/Year09/VizitaHistorikeEn.htm
The historical visit of the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, Theodoros II
to the Church of Albania
The first day, date October 31 2009.
The realization of the historical visit of the Pope and Patriarch of
Alexandria and All Africa, His Beatitude Theodoros II began with the arrival
at Mother Teresa Airport. All of the metropolitans, bishops, and members of
the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania, led by His
Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durr?s and all Albania, together
with clergy and Orthodox believers from the four dioceses, received him at
the airport.
At 11.00 o'clock, the Patriarch of Alexandria and his delegation, made
up of the Metropolitan of Kampala and Exarch of All Uganda, His Eminence
Jonah, the Metropolitan of Mwanzas, His Eminence Jeronymos and the Auxiliary
Bishop, His Grace Nikodemos of Nitria, entered the yard of Annunciation
Orthodox Cathedral. Believers filled the Church yard welcoming them by
chanting and throwing flower petals and laurel leaves.
After chanting the Service of Doxology for the official reception of
the high ranking visitors from the Alexandrian Church, the two Primates
exchanged greetings.
Archbishop Anastasios offered the welcome first and expressed the
spiritual joy and delight that filled the hearts of the Synod and the pious
people of Albania. The Archbishop put into words his deep feelings
remembering his first meeting with Patriarch Theodoros when the latter was a
first year student in the Theological University of Athens; as well as the
years when he (Archbishop Anastasios) served as a missionary in Africa and
the first Divine Liturgy in Kampala in May of 1964. The Archbishop also
remembered stories from the lives of the members of the delegation, when
they were still children and then later became his students in Athens. Then
Archbishop Anastasios explained also the spiritual relationship between
Albania and Africa as two important stations of His ecclesiastical activity.
In his greeting, the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa,
Theodoros II, addressed Archbishop Anastasios with these words: "Dear
teacher, you know very well that from the great city of Alexandria, which
was built by the Ptolemies, descendants of Alexander the Great, there
originated the most famous theological and catechetical schools. The
Alexandrian theologians explained the Orthodox dogmas, triumphing thus over
all heresies. In the Cathedral I joyfully look at the icons of St.
Athanasios the Great and of St. John the Merciful, Great Patriarchs of
Alexandria. Whenever I need spiritual renewal I take time and visit the
vicinities of the desert of Nitria, where the great hermits lived, in order
to be as close as possible to their ascetic spirit.
The two African Metropolitans that accompany me were not randomly
elected to be part of our delegation. They are your sons that you raised up
spiritually, preparing them for the lofty duty of bishop. You planted the
seeds of the mission in Africa resurrecting the missionary awareness of the
entire Orthodox Church.
In my own memories, when I was a student in the Rozario School, there
was the picture of an enlightened teacher, who time after time would come
and visit us. It was You, then the Bishop of Androusa, from whom I heard for
the first time about Africa, without knowing that God would direct my steps
toward this continent when He told me, "Go to Africa and take up the Cross
of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark. And in this month in which we are
realizing our visit, here next to you, we celebrate also the fifth
anniversary of the Enthronement as Patriarch of Alexandria, as a strong
symbol that unites our two Churches.
Ten years ago this martyred Church was visited by the Ecumenical
Patriarch, Bartholomew I, who is the First Bishop according to Orthodox
canonical order. Now, before you is the Second Bishop according to canonical
order, but who is at the same time your student and son. While Africa
progresses in the spreading of the message of the Gospel, we admire the
Church of Albania, who under the inspired guidance of Your Beatitude is
marking a strong restoration, and where everywhere we see the miracles of
God's Grace in your work. Years and generations pass and someday we will
read that from the vicinities of Africa and Albania there passed the bright
figure of Archbishop Anastasios who evangelized and resurrected hope
everywhere. Your reputation is well-known, not only in Orthodoxy, but all
over the world. You taught us how to be real missionaries."
The visit of the Pope and Patriarch Theodoros continued, as scheduled,
in the St. Vlash Monastery. Accompanied by Archbishop Anastasios, the
Primate of the African continent inspected the facilities of the
Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy, visited the Monastery of
Myrrhbearing Women and the girls' dormitory, and the Orthodox Children's
Home of "Hope." He, together with Archbishop Anastasios, planted two olive
seedlings, a symbol of unity and cooperation between the Patriarchate of
Alexandria and the Church of Albania.
Later Patriarch Theodoros and his delegation participated in a communal
lunch with the pedagogical staff and students of the Resurrection of Christ
Theological Academy, as well as the teachers and students of Holy Cross
Church Lyceum.
The Patriarch had a warm conversation during his meeting with the young
students. He told them about his life and the steps he followed from the
moment he was a student to his election to the Throne of the Patriarch of
Alexandria. Later on, the other members of the delegation spoke and
confessed their memories also of the help that they had been given by
Archbishop Anastasios. His Beatitude had foreseen in them, from their very
childhood, the path they were to follow in their education and formation to
the Episcopal rank.
Archbishop Anastasios declared that he had a dream that was expressed
in the wish that one day the Church of Albania should send its sons as
missionaries to Africa. "We have often heard" - he continued, "the Hierarchs
of the Church speak of the huge needs that the local Churches have. This is
true, but each Church, however small and needy it is, should think of
mission as an absolute priority of its life, because in this way the Church,
where the missionaries go, is blessed, and the Church that sends them is
blessed and strengthened. The day will not be far - the Archbishop
concluded - when even Albanian missionaries will go to Africa to spread the
Word of God."
With this missionary atmosphere and spirit the first day of the
peaceful and official visit of the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all
Africa, Theodoros II closed. Tomorrow, Sunday November 1st the Patriarchal
and Hierarchical concelebration of the two Primates in the Annunciation of
the Theotokos Orthodox Cathedral will take place, and the main messages of
the Primates will be read also.
Alex Curi
Translated by Joan Baba
Edited by Anastasia Pamela Barksdale |
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