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     On the afternoon of Thursday 13th March 2008, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, accompanied by His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Petros of Aksum, and the Patriarchal Deacon Arkady, arrived in Cyprus for an official conciliatory visit to the Church of the Apostle Barnabas.

     At the Larnaca Airport, the Primate of the Church of St Mark was met by His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Kition, Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol, Metropolitan Isaiah of Tamassos, Metropolitan Kyrillos of Nafkratis, Bishop Nicholas of Amathus, Bishop Porphyrios of Neapolis, Archimandrite Ieronymos,Chancellor of the Archbishopric of Cyprus, Archimandrite Gregory Hatziouraniou, Archimandrite Lazarus Georgiou and Mr. Andreas Mitsidis. The Cypriot government was represented by His Excellency the Minister of Education Mr. Andreas Dimitriou. Also present were His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece Mr. Dimitris Rallis and other officials.

     In the V.I.P. lounge of the Larnaca Airport , the two Primates gave statements to the Media. The Alexandrian Patriarch expressed his gratitude to the Church of Cyprus for its long moral and financial assistance and contribution to the laborious work of the Missions on the African continent, and mentioned His Cypriot predecessor Patriarch Petros VII.

     The Archbishop of Cyprus expressed the joy of the entire Church of Cyprus on His Beatitude’s visit and mentioned his own personal visit to the Church of Alexandria the previous year. He also referred to the programme of the Alexandrian Primate’s visit.

     On the arrival of His Beatitude, his entourage was joined by the Elder Metropolitan Paul of Memphis, Metropolitan George of Zimbabwe, Bishop Athanasios of Cyrene , Protopresbyter Athinodoros Papaevripiades and the Chairman of the Office Bearers of the Patriarchal Throne, Mr Theodoros Panagopoulos.