On 26th March 2010 His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, together with His Eminence Seraphim, Metropolitan of Johannesburg and Pretoria, visited the Hellenic Archives of the University of Johannesburg.
The archives are kept officially at the University of Johannesburg which maintains records of Hellenism in South Africa from the 20th century, under the initiative and responsibility of the Lyceum Club of Greek Women. His Beatitude was welcomed b y by His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece in South Africa Mr. Spyridon Theoharopoulos, Mrs Vasiliki Gounaris the Consul General of Greece in Johannesburg, and Mrs. N. Souris, Chairlady of the Lyceum, professors and staff of the University.
Following the greeting by the Ambassador and the address by Mrs Souris, who spoke of the material kept in the archives, His Beatitude emphasized the importance of this effort and informed all of the Patriarchal Library in Alexandria. Commemorative gifts were exchanged and His Beatitude was taken on a guided tour of the Archives.
His Beatitude then went on to visit the Serbian Parish of St Basil in Johannesburg. The Hieromonk Father Pantelejmon, the other Priests, the Chairman of the Serbian Community and Serbian faithful welcomed His Beatitude and His Eminence Seraphim and sang the doxology in the Church. His Beatitude also conducted the memorial service for the repose of the soul of the late Patriarch Paul of Serbia and addressed the faithful speaking of the lengthy ties of friendship between the Greek and Serbian peoples, their struggles on behalf of the Orthodox faith and spoke also of “the holy Patriarch Paul”. He also praised the person of His Beatitude Patriarch Irenaios of Serbia.
Following the exchange of gifts, the Parish hosted an official lunch in honour of His Beatitude.
In the evening the Venerable Patriarch of the Alexandrian Church attended a concert, “From the Passion to the Resurrection”, organised by the Hellenic Community of Germiston in the Church of St John.
The Patriarch praised the excellent musical event and thanked the Very Reverend Archimandrite Ioannis Tsaftarides for the productive effort he puts into his parish, as well as Mr. Kosta Kousiakis, Chairman of the Community, the members and faithful both for the excellent organisation and for their work in the community. He then attended the reception.
