In the evening, accompanied by Archbishop Seraphim
of Johannesburg and Pretoria and Bishop Sergios of the Cape of Good
Hope, the Patriarch dined at the Greek Sporting Club as the honoured
guest of the ex-patriots Hellenic Committees of Egypt and the Sudan.
The president Mr. Kirkinis, congratulated the Patriarch on the tremendous
work he has done over the past four years of his reign. He appointed
Patriarch Petros VII, honorary President of the ex-patriot Hellenic
Committees of Egypt and the Sudan and assured him of their ethical
and material support at all times.
At another working breakfast on Saturday the
5th of May with Archbishop Seraphim of Johannesburg and
Pretoria and Bishop Sergios of the Cape of Good Hope together with
the Council of the Church of Pantanassa under the Chairman Mr. A.
Argyros, more discussion took place on the future of Pantanassa and
the Patriarch's advice was taken on future developments in the Parish.
A visit was then paid together with Archbishop
Seraphim, to the Greek radio station the "Pan Hellenic Voice",
where the president of the Station, Mr. Takis Siridis and all his
co-workers met his Beatitude, who with love, he blessed the listeners
of the station. He reminded listeners of the first Liturgy which
took place at Pantanassa in 1981, when, with the blessing of the
then Patriarch Nikoloau, he came to Johannesburg as the first priest
who was sent to organize and establish the new Parish Church at Pantanassa.
He came willingly and with the energy to organize the Sacraments,
the Bible Studies, the Youth Group, the Sunday School, Greek School
and Philanthropic society which were all firsts in the Patriarchate
in Africa. He also said that the new Archbishop Seraphim had the
spiritual gifts needed to spread the Greek Orthodox Mission to those
living in this country. He mentioned the problems facing the Community
here, such as the crime, and promised that the Church is always ready
to assist all in bringing love, peace and harmony to their flock.
The Patriarch, Archbishops Seraphim and Sergios
with Archimandrite Jacob went to Sts. Anargyrous to Baptize Stelianos
, the son of Andrew Zisimidis.
The Partriarch thanked the family Zisimidis
and all those who have made possible the work which was being done
at the Patriarchal Church of Agious Anargyrous.
That evening the Patriarch of Alexandria Petros
VII, conducted a Panygiric Vespers
at Pantanassa on the occasion of the 20th Birthday
celebrations.
On the same evening, the Patriarch Petros VII
, presented Father Minas Constatinos,
an award in acknowledgement for his many years
of service to the Archbishopric of Johannesburg and Pretoria, and
for his service to the Archbishopric of the Cape of Good Hope A celebratory
function was then held in the Hall at Pantanassa given by the Council,
Ladies Committee and Parishioners of the Church.
The highlight of the Birthday celebration was
the Partriarchal Divine Liturgy held on Sunday the 6th May,
together with the Archbishops Seraphim and Sergios, Bishop Cyril
of Zimbabwe and the Priests of the Archbishopric of Johannesburg
and Pretoria.
Archbishop Seraphim said that it was a great
honour to be able to celebrate this great occasion with the presence
of a successor of the Holy Apostle of St. Mark the Evangelist, the
successor of St. Athanasios the Great, Saint Cyril, Saint John the
Almsgiver, our Spiritual Father the Blessed Pope and Patriarch of
Alexandria and of All Africa, Petros VII. Despite his heavy schedule
in dealing with 15 Metropolitans,
his worldwide involvement in Human Rights issues,
the problem of poverty, aids, drugs, freedom of religion etc…because
of his love for us, he closed the distance between Johannesburg and
Alexandria, by coming here to be with his first parish which truly
loved him. On leaving Pantanassa to become a Bishop, he was sent
to Cairo, then to Ankkara, the Cameroon, and now as Patriarch, he
looks after Nigeria and Ghana, Kenya, Hopetown, Nairobi and Kampala,
Ughanda, Daar -es- Salaam, Boukovas and 22 West African Countries
of the Patriarchical seat of Alexandria!
"I remind you of the early days of those
beautiful years when these pious Christian Greeks abroad, here in
South Africa, had the initiative to build this most venerable Holy
Church, and who were blessed by God to have had you as their first
priest.
Because of your love and your faith in God,
your work has lasted. Your footsteps are being filled today by Archimandrite
Father Nikodimos who is following your living example and making
Pantanassa the model for all the Churches of the Orthodox Churches
outside of Greece. Your love for all of the parishioners of our Archbishopric
of Johannesburg and Pretoria, is expressed by your presence with
us at the celebration of Pantanassa's 20th Birthday.
Allow me, your Beatitude, on behalf of the clergy,
your people, the President of the Pantanassa Council Mr. A. Argyros
and his co-workers, the Ladies Committee, The Sunday School, the
Youth Group, the Choirmaster and Choir and all the Believers of the
Metropolis of Johannesburg and Pretoria, to express my sincere gratitude
for your presence here. We are proud of you and express our admiration
at the honour and the blessing that our Spiritual Father occupying
the throne of Alexandria, our Patriarch Petros VII the Apostle of
the Nations, offers to all his flock under his care and for inspiring
the unity of all the Orthodox Churches in Africa. The peaceful unifying
of Churches under crises such as the Churches of Bulgaria, Roumania,
Cyprus, Serbia, Greece, Constantinople and Russia with the help of
God, has been a feature of Orthodox history and you have merely followed
the example of your predecessors, but have by your witness to Orthodoxy,
raised the authority of the Patriarchate to greater heights in this
generation. During difficult times, we see God's providence, and
you were chosen to see us all through the second millenium into the
third, lit by the Lighthouse of Alexandria and the Greek Orthodox
light of Salvation.
We promise you that we will do what ever is
best for our youth and our children of this Parish for which this
Church was built twenty years ago. Congratulations to those who have
faced the problems that have arisen and who have fought the good
fight by holding on to their ideals".
Ilia Stavrou was ordained principal psalti of
the Metropolis of Johannesburg and Pretoria, followed by a reception
in the hall.
In the evening his Beatitude, accompanied by
their Eminences' Seraphim of Johannesburg and Pretoria, Cape of Good
Hope , Sergios, Zimbabwe, Cyril the
Secretary of the Holy Synod, Father Jacob, Kontova,
were guests of Honour at a formal dinner at the Hilton in Sandton,
for all those who wished to acknowledge the twenty years of work
done at Pantanassa and all the friends who are always supportive
of the work of the Patriarchate of Alexandria. All present were presented
with a commemorative gift of a cross in the shape of the plan of
the Church on which appeared the likeness of His Beatitude. Mr. C.
Gerondoudis presented an historical outline of events during 1971
to 2001 which took all down memory lane.
His Beatitude left for Egypt after a Monday
morning working breakfast.
We were honoured to have him with us and he
was able to meet with all his workers
in the field in South Africa.
