The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Theodoros II’s tour
Shortly after Lwanga’s memorial service, His Beatitude Theodoros II blessed the new Secretariat building for the Metropolis of Kampala. This building was constructed with support from fundraisers made by the Consulate of Uganda in Greece and support from friends of the Orthodox mission in Romania.
The pope also laid a foundation stone for the Uganda Orthodox Church Pension House which the Orthodox Church leadership in Uganda hope will become an income generating project for the church.
His Beatitude Theodoros II also extended his visit to St. Spyridon Orthodox Church in Luguzi, Wakiso, where a “doxology” (thanksgiving prayer) was performed and also planted a tree to mark his visit there.
Throughout the week, Theodoros II visited several Orthodox missions in Kampala, Wakiso, Buikwe, Jinja, Namutumba and Gulu meeting the Orthodox faithful. At St. Paraskavi Orthodox Monastery in Busaana, Buikwe District, he consecrated the Temple and elevated Rev. Fr. Prodoromos Lubega to the rank of an Archimandrite and Abbot of St. Paraskevi Monastery on Oct.14.
A day earlier, on Oct.13, while on tour of St. Catherine Nun’s Monastery in Kiyindi, Buikwe, the pope tonsured Sr. Thavoria Kabalwanyi. At Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Jinja City, Pope Theodoros II was met by the Orthodox faithful who had gathered to welcome him in eastern Uganda.
At Spyridon Church Parish at Nsinze in Namutumba District in eastern Uganda, the pope emphasized the need for all Ugandans to protect themselves against the COVID-19 pandemic noting that it is non-discriminatory as it can kill anyone. Theodoros II would later pray for the end of COVID-19 so that the Ugandan children who he said are the future of the church and humanity could go back to school and resume studies.
Theodoros II concluded his pastoral visit to Uganda on Oct. 18 with a courtesy visit to State House, Entebbe, where he met President Yoweri Museveni. The Pope commended the hospitality rendered to him by the government of Uganda from Oct.11 until his departure. He also appreciated “the cordial relationship the church shares with the State.”
He informed the president that he would, through an acquaintance in Russia, bring into Uganda 20,000 COVID-19 vaccines. He said this would be done through the Embassy of Uganda in Rome and the Ugandan Consulate in Athens.
President Museveni thanked the Pope for loving Uganda referring to all his previous visits and also thanked the Pope for blessing Uganda.
His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria Theodoros II proceeded with his pastoral visits to Bukoba and Dar es Salam in Tanzania and Cairo in Egypt.
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