Johannesburg:Patriarch of Alexandria Visits First Women's Monastery in South Africa

His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa arrived in South Africa on 19 January 2018 for a momentous pastoral visit,encompassing the 50th anniversary celebration of the Metropolis of Good Hope (1968-2018) and missionary journeys to Namibia and Zambia.*
On the first afternoon of his spiritual sojourn,His Beatitude visited the new Monastery of Sts.Nicholas of Myra,Nekatarios of Aegina and Paisios of Mt.Athos.It is the first Orthodox monastery for women in South Africa.Founded by His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim,currently of Zimbabwe and Angola,and under the spiritual guidance of the Very Rev.Archimandrite Apostolos (Apostolakis),who has also founded women's monasteries in Kenya and Tanzania,there are five nuns in the fledgling sisterhood.
Accompanying Patriarch Theodoros to the Monastery were His Eminence Metropolitan Damaskinos of Johannesburg and Pretoria;His Grace Bishop Nikodemos of Nitria;the Reverend Protopresbyter Athenodoros Papaevripiadis,Exarch of the Patriarchate of Alexandria to Cyprus;His Excellency Mr.Eleftherios Kouvaritakis,Ambassador of Greece to South Africa and the Honourable Consul General of Greece Mr.Ioannis Hatzandonakis,both of Crete,and several other dignitaries.*
Following Vespers,His Beatitude enthroned as the first Abbess of the Monastery Nun Orthodoxia,herself a native of Crete.Patriarch Therodoros observed that:
Monasticism is not a contempt of the world;but a challenge for reform in Christ,for transfiguration and its salvation.In days to come,the Monastery will be a point of attraction for many young and spiritual people from South Africa and missions in general,who will come to know the ideals of Orthodox Monasticism,contributing to their promotion in the field of African Orthodoxy and becoming a vital and hopeful presence for contemporary humanity.*
The Monastery is located on a verdant hill,in the quiet and scenic haven of Hartbeespoort,about an hour from Johannesburg.*
Afterwards,His Beatitude celebrated the anniversary with the clergy and laity,many of them being of Greek descent,of the Metropolis of Good Hope,including His Eminence Metropolitan Sergios of the Cape of Good Hope.The Patriarch emphasised that it is essential to pass on the Hellenic heritage,the Greek language and culture,to the children.
His Beatitude also visited and blessed some missionary centres in the Capetown area,where both Greek and South African flags were proudly displayed.