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.
