HIS BEATITUDE PAYS AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE CITY OF ODESSA
On 12th October 2007, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, with in the framework of his official visit to the Church of the Ukraine, went to Odessa, the city in which he lived from 1985-1995 as Exarch of the Alexandrian Patriarchate.
Immediately following his arrival in the historic city, His Beatitude went to the Greek Church of the Holy Trinity where he was especially warmly welcomed by His Eminence Agathangelos of Odessa and Ismael and the Christian faithful as well as the representatives of Greece and Ukraine, among whom were the Consul General of Greece in Odessa Mr Dimitris Moschopoulos, the President of the local Parliament of Odessa Mr Nikolai Skorik, the Deputy Mayor of the city Mr Anatoly Vorochaiev, the Head of the Greek Institude of Culture Mr Sofronis Paradeisopoulos, and representatives of other Churches. “This is were the Greek Revolution began…it is also where the presence of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Odessa began in 1956”, said the Venerable Alexandrian Primate. He also expressed his gratitude to the Metropolitan of Odessa for all that he has contributes to the Patriarchate and Hellenism, as well as for his moving words when speaking of Hellenism in Odessa. Ending his address, he said: Many years have passed since I left you, but looking at you and remembering most of you from the past, I feel like not a day has passed!…”.
His Beatitude then visited the adjacent neoclassical building where he lived while he was Exarch, the Hellenic institute of Culture where significant heirlooms from the Greek Revolution are kept, as also the cemetery where he conducted the Memorial Service for the repose of the soul of the late Metropolitan Sergios of Odessa and other departed citizens of the city, who helped his during his Exarchial tenure.