HIS BEATITUDE PLEADS FOR AN END TO THE VIOLENCE IN JOHANNESBURG

     Following urging by the Police, the Holy Church of Ss Constantine and Helen where the celebrations for their Feast were to have taken place on 21^st May, in the presence of His Beatitude Theodoros II, has been closed temporarily.

     The parish church which celebrates its 100^th anniversary this year and is the first built by the Greek immigrants when they arrived in South Africa, is situated in the centre of the city, where for the past week there have been scenes of violent clashes between South Africans and immigrant Zimbabweans.

     Speaking on 21^st May 2008, in the Holy Church of St Nektarios, in Johannesburg , His Beatitude made a public appeal through the media who were present, for a cessation of the clashes so that violence can stop and calm prevail in the entire city and in South Africa .