«We set as the first issue peace in the Middle East and particularly in Syria. No matter how many walls are erected by affluent societies or how many patrols are launched, misery will find a way to penetrate and provoke the dormant humanity of the self-complacent West», stated in an interview to «In-On» magazine His Holiness the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros II.
Question: Tell us about the missionary work of the Patriarchate of Alexandria
Answer: While recognizing the importance of preserving and promoting the historical heritage of two thousand years as an uninterrupted testimony of the Orthodox Faith, the second in order Church of Alexandria sets missionary work as a prime goal. Missionary work is not only limited to the pastoral sector but expands to the development in the field of charity aiming to cover social, educational, health and other needs. Indeed, this is the direction, under the auspices of the Patriarchate, that the educational institutions at all levels function; namely training schools that focus on practical arts, clinics emphasizing on providing primary health care, support centers for patients with AIDS and drug addicts, shelters for the needy, the disabled and single mothers also orphanages, nursing homes, soup kitchens, charities, etc. This multi-level activity has as its benchmark the African man as a personal being, as a complete and perfect image of God. The Patriarchate assists the Africans with love, expressing in this way God’s will and the ultimate purpose of the Church which is no other than salvation. Our maximum concern is primarily the children of Africa, the future of this continent which as we have already stated: «It is the joy all of us feel who serve that purpose when we see dried tears on the faces of children and instead see playgrounds, their smiling faces. It is then that the road that we all want to walk is open in front of us, the road to salvation …by serving the children, we serve Christ and bear witness of the prophetic mission of the Church which is hope.»
Question: What is the contribution of the Patriarchate of Alexandria to stop the war in Syria?
Answer: During all our meetings with political or religious leaders, for instance in our meeting with President Putin, or in our recent meeting in Jerusalem with the Jerusalem Patriarch. Theofilos and the Archbishop of Cyprus Mr. Chrysostomos, the first topic we always set is the peace in the Middle East and more particularly in Syria. In the recent Interfaith Conference in Athens on «Religious and Political Pluralism and peaceful coexistence in the Middle East», organized by the Foreign Minister of Greece Mr. N. Kotzias hosting the Heads of Orthodox churches along with leaders of other religions and political leaders, we discussed about current issues, expressing our conviction regarding the respect of the human right to enjoy freedom of religion and also we suggested ways to solve the problems of the region mainly by taking development actions against poverty. And this is because within the framework of poverty and social injustice, fundamentalism and intolerance are cultivated.
However, if things do not balance after the turbulences of the so-called Arab Spring, if the conditions of a minimum decent standard of living are not created, if respect for all does not exist in practice, regardless of racial, religious or political reasons, then unfortunately the fundamentalism monster will become huge and slave holds will be filled with human souls, ignorant for this dangerous, hidden passage on the other side of the Mediterranean. No matter how many walls are erected by affluent societies or how many patrols are launched, misery will find a way to penetrate and provoke the dormant humanity of the self-complacent West.
Question: What are the actions of the Patriarchate in order to stop religious conflicts under which political conflicts and interests lie without considering people’s lives?
Answer: It is unthinkable to Christians to use violence against violence. The Church of Christ is irrevocably committed to the example of Christ, who became a man like us out of love, opened his heart to the despised, accepted others and is constantly praying so as love and peace prevail in all humanity. The most important weapon of the Church is to pray for peace all over the world. The Patriarchate of Alexandria participates and promotes inter-religious dialog, emphasizing on the common ground that unites religions, tries to dispel the prejudices that exist due to the different religious beliefs and proposes as a solution the harmonious coexistence of people who are ethnically, culturally and religiously alike. Acceptance is the first step towards the marginalization of violent instincts and the consolidation of internal and interpersonal peace. Accepting other people can change them as well as ourselves.
Question: What is the history of the Patriarchate of Alexandria?
Answer: The Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa is the second in the order of fourteen independent Orthodox Churches, which together constitute Orthodoxy, one of the three main Christian creeds including Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. Located in Alexandria, Egypt, its spiritual authority stretches across the African continent, which is a single geographical church region. The Patriarch of Alexandria is the second in order among the Orthodox Patriarchs after the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and the Patriarch holds the historic title «Beatitude Pope and Patriarch of the great city of Alexandria, Libya, Pentapolis, Ethiopia, all Egypt and All Africa, Fathers’ Father, Shepherd of Shepherds, High Priest of the Bishops, thirteenth of the Apostles and Judge of the Universe. The Patriarchate of Alexandria has a long history in Egypt and Africa of about two thousand years. The founder and the first bishop of the Alexandrian Church is considered, according to the church tradition, to be the Apostle and Evangelist Mark. St. Mark settled in Alexandria around 43 AD, the year which it is believed that the Church of Alexandria was founded. During the first centuries of the Christian era, the Patriarchate of Alexandria played a significant role not only in the crystallization of the principles of Christian teaching, but also in the spread of Christianity worldwide. Towards this direction, the operation of the famous Church School is considered a decisive feature, a school which has revealed men of great spirituality such as Pantainos, Climis and Origenis. Alongside, the emergence, the development and the systematization of monasticism either in its ascetic form or in the communal form, has helped through exercise and example to consolidate the Christian faith as well as the final formation of monasticism worldwide.
During the Arab conquest (641-1250) and during the Mamluk era (1250-1517), the Patriarchate was tested due to the depopulation of the Orthodox congregation and secondly because of the lack of material resources. The Patriarchate gradually began to recover after the Ottoman conquest (1517) showing a particular interest for the pastoral care and material support of the scattered Orthodoxes in Africa, however, developing at times an intense diplomatic activity aiming at the international protection of the Patriarchal Throne.
The favorable conditions which were created in Egypt by Mohammed Ali and his dynasty (1805-1952), the settlement of a number of Orthodox Christians and the organization of the dynamic communities in Egypt and from this point to all parts of northern and eastern Africa, launched the Patriarchate to regenerate and be reorganized. Initially, the Patriarchate restored its pre -Arab conquest geographical jurisdiction to a great extend through the revival of the ancient synodic system. Later, the Patriarchate made an opening across the African continent, addressing to every African, beyond borders, races and colors, but with respect to the customs and traditions of Africa. Today, starting from the Ecclesiastical Provinces (Holy Dioceses and Parishes) the Patriarchate of Alexandria constitutes a pure supranational church since it covers the spiritual needs of all Orthodox Christians that live across the continent, regardless their nationality and their citizenship.
Curriculum vitae
His Holiness Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros II (Nicholas Choreftakis) was born in Crete in 1954, where He completed his schooling. He has graduated from Rizarios Ecclesiastical School of Athens and also from the Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He studied History of Art, Literature and Philosophy in Odessa. During 1975-1985, He served as Archdeacon and Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Lambis and Sfakion, where He developed a significant preaching and charity work (shelters for the poor, the young, etc.). In the years 1985-1990, He served as Patriarchal Exarch in Russia, located in Odessa, under the rule of Patriarchs Nicholas VI and Parthenios III. He founded the Greek Culture Foundation and the Filiki Eteria Museum (Friends’ Society Museum) with 600 children who were learning Greek. In 1990, He was ordained Bishop in the Diocese of Kyrene and was appointed Representative of Patriarch Parthenius III in Athens (1990-1997). He always accompanied Patriarch Parthenius in his tours across the African continent, as well as in international, pan religious and theological conferences. In 1997, He was appointed Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria by the late Patriarch Peter VII, in order to help him in the beginning of his service and 10 months later He was elected Metropolitan of Cameroon. There, He developed significant missionary activity. He built churches, schools and hospitals, helping indiscriminately many Africans and Greeks, as well. In 2002, He was transferred to the Holy Metropolis of Zimbabwe, where He built four Missionary centers in the capital city of Harare. He also built a Greek Cultural Center that could host 400 delegates, two large missionary centers in Malawi, which included a hospital, technical schools and kindergartens. With the help of the Greek Parliament He renovated the «Greek Square» (School-Church-Vicarage) in the city of Beira, in Mozambique. He constructed churches and contributed to the establishment of the Greek Communities in the countries of Botswana and Angola.
On October 9th 2004, He was unanimously elected Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa by the Hierarchy of the Alexandrian Throne. His enthronement was realized in the monumental Cathedral of the Annunciation of Virgin Mary in Alexandria, in the presence of representatives of all Churches, foreign Doctrines, political authorities of Greece and Egypt headed by the President of the Greek Republic and thousands of people, on October 24th, 2004. His whole missionary activity, along with His gentle character is the reason why He receives so much love from all Africans, and from the Greeks and Arabs Communities in Egypt and in Africa. He was renowned by many as the «Missionary Patriarch» and «Patriarch of Love» for the children of Africa.
During His past eleven-year Patriarchal ministry, he showed a great renovation work; namely the completion and renovation of the Patriarchal Palace in Alexandria, the similar building of Chamzaoui in Cairo, He created the Patriarchal Archaeological Museum of Alexandria along with the Patriarchal Sacristy both in the location of the Patriarchal Palace. He fundamentally renovated the historically-called «Rotonda» of the East, namely, Saint George of Old Cairo. His concern for the peace issues of the Churches of the Middle East is constant and alert, presiding at meetings with the other heads of the old churches in order to find solutions for these issues. His welfare work was conceived and organized in Cyprus, which is an exarchate of the Patriarchate, while He also constructed a complex of buildings in Geri. He speaks Russian and French.
Human souls kept in the traffickers’ holds
