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START OF OPERATION OF THE FIRST ORTHODOX MISSIONARY

SCHOOL IN ZIMBABWE 

On Monday 1^st February 2010, the operation of the first Orthodox Missionary School in Zimbabwe began officially.  The school was inaugurated on 12^th may 2009 by His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, is situated within the Agios Nektarios Missionary Centre in Harare and was built by the “Agios Kosmas Aetolian” Missionary Society of Thessaloniki, on the initiative of its Chairman Mr. George Aslanidis, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Cyprus. The school bears the name of the late Missionary Hieromonk Kosmas Grigoriates, its Principal is Father Augustine Moketsi, there are 210 pupils and 5 experienced teachers are on the staff. The operation of the school began with a blessing of the waters conducted by His Eminence Metropolitan George of Zimbabwe in the presence of the High Commissioner of Cyprus in South Africa Ambassador Argyris Antoniou, the community leaders, the Dean of the Hellenic Academy, the Director of Education of the Ministry of Education, the parents and guardians and many others. Mr Antoniou addressed the pupils and among other things expressed his satisfaction on the completion of the work, wished them all success, spoke of the Cypriot problem and distributed gifts to all the pupils. 

LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE HOLY CHURCH OF THE LIFEGIVING FOUNTAIN 

On Friday 29^th January 2010, His Eminence George Metropolitan of Zimbabwe, laid the foundation stone of the Holy Church of the Life-giving Fountain in Chinhoyi. The Holy Church will be the nucleus of the new Missionary Centre which will be built on a plot of land 3, 416 m² and will include a clinic, school and a presbytery. It is the first Orthodox Church in the town of Chinhoyi, which is situated 120 km from the capital Harare and has a population of 100,000 citizens. The costs for the building of the new Missionary Centre have been undertaken by Mr. Michalis Pchiadakis from Crete, a member of the Society of Friends of the Patriarchate of Alexandira “Bridge of Love”, which is in Heraclion, Crete, in memory of his wife Maria. Present at the ceremony were the Consul General of Cyprus Mr Nestoras Nestoros, aepresentative of the town council and Orthodox Christians who live in the area.

SANCTIFICATION OF THE WATERS IN HARARE

On the day of the great Feast of  Theophany His Eminence George metropolitan of Zimbabwe officiated and conducted the Service of the Greater Blessing of Waters at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Harare. He then went to the Hellenic School and conducted the Blessing of the waters in the swimming pool at the school. The throwing of the cross followed, Pupils of the Hellenic School dived into the pool to retrieve the Cross. The lucky one of the year received a pectoral cross and other commemorative gifts. Present at the services were the Ambassador of Greece in Zimbabwe Mr Michael Koukakis, the Consul General of Cyprus Mr Nestoras Nestoros, the Consul General of Greece Mr Ioannides and other community members.

DIVINE LITURGY IN BOTSWANA

With the prayers and blessings of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, His Eminence George, Metropolitan of Zimbabwe, conducted the Divine Liturgy in Gaborone, capital of Botswana on 3^rd January 2010.  Following the Divine Liturgy he conducted the service of the Blessing of the Waters and then blessed the Vasilopitta of the Hellenic Community of Botswana. Present at the Divine Liturgy were Greek, Ukrainian, Serbian and Russian Orthodox Christians, who live permanently in Botswana. The lucky person of the evening received a silver icon of the Holy Virgin from His Eminence. His Eminence returned to his see in Harare at noon on Monday 4^th January 2010.