Cornerstone Laid for First Romanian Orthodox Church in Africa

In what seems to be an increasingly rare act of inter-Orthodox cooperation on its part, a bishop of the Bucharest Patriarchate has laid the cornerstone for a church to serve Romanian immigrants in metropolitan Johannesburg, South Africa, with the blessing of Pope Theodore II (Horeftakis) of Alexandria and All Africa. The cornerstone was laid this past Saturday in Midrand, a suburn of Joburg, by Metropolitan Damascene (Papandreou) of Johannesburg, the local ruling hierarch, and Bishop Petronius (Florea) of Zalau, a suffragan bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitanate of Cluj in Transylvania. A full account of the day with pictures of the service can be found here.

It is unclear whether the church will function as a representation of the Bucharest Patriarchate to the Church of Alexandria or as a Romanian-speaking parish of the Metropolis of Johannesburg.

First Hierarchs of Ancient Orthodox Churches Gather in Constantinople

A synaxis of the ancient Local Orthodox Churches in the Middle East bringing together Patriarch Bartholomew (Arhondonis) of Constantinople, Pope Theodoros II (Horeftakis) of Alexandria, Patriarch Theophilos III (Giannopoulos) of Jerusalem, Archbishop Chrysostomos II (Demetriou) of Nea Justiniana, and a representative of Patriarch Ignatios IV (Hazim) of Antioch, Bishop Isaac of Apamea, has been held at the patriarchal Church of St. George in Constantinople. During the meeting the assembled hierarchs discussed issues relating to the life of the Orthodox Church in the Middle East and Africa as well as the preparations for a general council of the Local Orthodox Churches. More (in Greek) here and here.

Pope Theodore, Archbishop Jerome Meet in Athens

Pope Theodoros II (Horeftakis) of Alexandria has begun a visit to Athens, meeting with Archbishop Jerome II (Liapis) of Athens to discuss relations between the Alexandrian and Greek Orthodox Churches and to thank him for all of the support provided by the Church of Greece to the missionary and pastoral work of the Orthodox Church in Africa. More (in Greek) here.

South Sudan Gains Independence

South Sudan has become Africa's newest state! More here.

St. Augustine of Hippo

Joyous feast! St. Augustine was born in the Berber territory of Numidia, then the Roman province of Africa and now divided between Algeria and Tunisia, in 354 and was raised by his devout mother, St. Monica, who eventually sent him to ancient Carthage to further his studies.

The Saint, then a Manichean, eventually became a professor of rhetoric and moved to Milan to teach in the late 300s. In Milan St. Augustine met the great St. Ambrose and was converted to Orthodoxy, giving away his worldly possessions to the poor to become a monk.

In 391 St. Augustine was ordained a priest and, four years later, consecrated to the episcopacy and after some time as an auxiliary was in 395 elected Bishop of Hippo in Numidia. During his 35 years as a bishop St. Augustine wrote his famous Confessions as well as many works combating the various heresies besetting the Church at that time.

St. Augustine fell asleep during the Vandal siege of his see in 430 at the age of seventy-six. More on his life can be found here and here. May his blessing and prayers be with us all!

Pope Theodoros Leads Graduation Ceremonies in Alexandria

Pope Theodoros II (Horeftakis) of Alexandria has led graduation celebrations at St. Athanasius' Patriarchal School in Alexandria, which is largely attended by students from sub-Saharan Africa. During the graduation itself Pope Theodoros called on the graduating students preach the Gospel in their homelands and not to forget 'that the heart of the Orthodox Church of Africa beats in the Holy City of Alexandria.' More (in Greek) here.

South Sudan Votes for Independence

In the recent referendum in South Sudan nearly 99% of voters chose independence for the region over maintaining its loose confederation with North Sudan. The new country born out of Africa's largest state will be roughly the size of Texas and home to roughly 9 million people. More on the referendum and efforts to develop the country in preparation for independence here.