With the Patriarchal prayers and blessings of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, His Grace Panteleimon, Bishop of Brazzaville and Congo, arrived in the city of Pointe Noire, co-capital of the Republic of Congo on Friday 8th February 2013. At the city’s International Airport His Grace was welcomed by the Very Reverend Archimandrite Theologos Chrysanthakopoulos, the clergy, local authorities and many faithful.
In the afternoon of the same day the official welcome of the Bishop took place at the temporary Holy Cathedral of St. Dimitrios in the city of Pointe Noire, the See of the Diocese of Brazzaville and Gabon, where a doxology was sung.
Addresses then followed by the Very Reverend Archimandrite Theologos Chrysanthakopoulos, the Reverend Protopresbyter Maximos Oumba, Parish Priest of the Holy Cathedral, and by the Honourable Mr. Celestin Ngaepio, Chairman of the Parish Council, and all expressed the joy of the Christian faithful of the local Church on the arrival of their Shepherd.
During his reply, His Grace Panteleimon spoke of the responsibility of the service of a Bishop and the importance of missionary work, and also passed on the blessings and the tireless concern of the Venerable Primate of the Apostolic and Patriarchal Throne of St Mark for the Orthodox Christians of the Congo and Gabon, as well as of all Africa. He then convened the first Priests’ meeting of the clergy of the Diocese and hosted a dinner for them.
It is noted that next Monday 11th February, His Grace will travel to Dolisie, where the Parish community of St Irene is situated, as well as the schools and the orphanage of the Diocese and from there, on Wednesday 13th February he will visit the Parish community of the Transfiguration of the Saviour in Nkayi.