On Thursday 26th June 2014,His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, accompanied by His Eminence Leon, Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland and the Sirector of his Private Office the Very Reverend Archimandrite Apostolos Trifyllis, met with His Excellency the President of Finland Mr. Sauli Niinisto at the persidentail summer residence in the district of Kulturanta Naantali. During the meeting His Beatitude briefed the Finnish President on the missionary efforts undertaken by the Patriarchate in Africa and they discussed the prospects of collaboration in the framework of the efforts being made in order to realise the aims of the millennium set by the United Nations. The Finnish President showed particular interest on the position of the Patriarchate on inter-Christian and inter-Faith issues in Africa, as well as in the experiences of the Patriarchate from its recent period of full social and political events in Egypt. In conclusion, His Beatitude awarded the Finnish President the Great Cross of the Order of the Lion of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, wanting in this way to honour in his person all those Finns, clergy and laity, who over the years have worked for the missionary struggle of the Patriarchate. The two Primates, together with their entourages drove over a large part of the verdant and lake-studded parts of Finland and late that night arrived at the Holy Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour New Valamo, where His Beatitude was welcomed by the entire monastic Brotherhood.
