PILGRIMAGE BY HIS BEATITUDE THE POPE AND PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA TO THE HOLY ISLAND OF TINOS (GREECE)

On 5th September 2015, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa and His Beatitude Ieronymos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, paid a pilgrimage visit to the holy island of Tinos (Greece) and both met for a short while in the hall of the Holy Institution of the Virgin Mary.

Their Beatitudes the Primates were welcomed by His Eminence Dorotheos II, Archbishop of Syros, Tinos, Andros, Kea, Milos and Mykonos, the holy clergy, the members of the Administrative Council of the Institution and during the arrival of His Beatitude the Patriarch of Alexandria at the port in Tinos, present at the welcome were the Parliamentarian Mr. Ioannis Broutsis, the District Governor of Tinos and the Mayor of Tinos.

Following the arrival of His Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch a Doxology was sung as is ecclesiastical custom at the Most Holy Church of the Virgin Mary. His Beatitude the Patriarch was accompanied by His Eminence George, Arcbishop of Guinea and His Grace Panteleimon, Bishop of Congo-Brazzaville and Gabon, who has his origins on the island of Tinos.

On Sunday 6th September, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, officiated at theMost Hiily Church of Evangelistria, together with His Eminence George Metropolitan of Guinea and His Grace Panteleimon, Bishop of Congo-Brazzaville and Gabon. In the sanctuary were also Their Eminences Archbishop Niphon of Al Sahba (Antiochian Patriarchate), Archbishop Theoklitos of Vrestheni (Church of Greece) and His Eminence Dorotheos II, Archbishop of Syros and Tinos.

Prior to the end of the Divine Liturgy His Eminence Archbishop Doroteos II welcomed His Beatitude on behalf of the Administrative Council of the Holy Institution of Virgin Mary and gave him a copy of the Icon of the Blessed Virgin, praying that it would protect him and keep him for many blessed and glorious years.

His Beatitude replied and having conveyed the blessings of the Saints of Egypt and asked for the help and prayer of the Holy Virgin for the mission and His missionary journeys, he gave the Holy Institution an Icon of the Great Martyr George and to His Eminence Dorotheos II he gave a pectoral cross bearing the icon of the Saint Apostle and Evangelist Mark.