On 20th December 2017 His Eminence Panteleimon, Metropolitan of Congo-Brazzaville and Gabon, accompanied by the Honourable Mr. Nicholas Perris, Honorary Consul General of Greece in Congo-Brazzaville, had a meeting with Her Excellency Ms. Antoinette Dzondo Dinga, the new Minister of Socia Affairs and Humanistic Action of the Republic of Congo.
His Eminence, who met with the Minister to jointly consider issues of a legal nature to do with the “St Efstathios” Orthodox Orphanage, following amendments to the relative legislation of the country, referred in detail to the decisive economic contribution of the missionary associations in Greece to its founding and operation, as well as ecclesiastical organizations, institutions and individuals from Greece, Cyprus and abroad who, in the midst of a severe financial crisis, assist this philanthropic effort. He also mentioned the sacrificial contribution of the patriarchate of Alexandria to the entire African continent and conveyed to Ms. Dinga the paternal prayers and gratitude of His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II.
The Minister thanked His Eminence for the “work of exceptional quality done at the institution, according to the reports of the relevant departments of the Ministry, including that of the Director General who visited the orphanage during the recent celebrations of its tenth anniversary”, as she said, and assured him that he will have her full support for the continuation of this valuable contribution by the local Orthodox Church.
Also present at the meeting were the Director General of the Ministry, the Director of Family Affairs, the Director of the Private Ministerial Office and the Legal Advisor of the Minister.
Immediately afterwards His Eminence and the Consul General of Greece went to the Presidency of the Republic, where they paid a courtesy visit with the Director, Mr. Remy Ayayos-Ikounga, who also happens to be the Chairman of the Congo-Brazzaville Football Club “A.C.Leopards”, holders of the Pan-African Cup.
The Director of the Presidency – who is from Dolisie – expressed his joy for the visit, and proposed to His Eminence that he visit the “Agios Efstathios” Orthodox Orphanage and the “Light of the Nations” Orthodox Primary School in his home town, as well as the Orthodox Church’s football team,(1st National category), which is also based in Dolisie.