Pastoral Visit of His Eminence Metropolitan John to Germany 17/10 - 03/11/08 His Eminence Archbishop John has made his first pastoral visit to Germany, accompanied by Archimandrates Athanasius Fahad and Gregorius Khoury. It lasted for three weeks from 17.10.08-03.11.08, in order for the father to meet the spiritual children who will be under his care, and for them to get to know their new spiritual pastor. His Eminence presided at his first celebratory divine liturgy at St. George’s Church in Berlin, attended by representatives of the Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant Churches, and a number of ambassadors from Arab and other countries. The place was packed with the large number of persons attending, who came from the whole of Germany to receive the blessing of their pastor. The liturgy was followed by speeches from the representatives of the Churches to the new Archbishop, and His Eminence made a pastoral address expressing his aspirations for his future task and about the role which the Orthodox should play in Europe. His Eminence also made a number of official visits to the Embassies of Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Greece and Cyprus, emphasizing the importance of friendly mutual relations for the task of serving our people and all mankind. In turn, Their Excellencies the Ambassadors also emphasized their readiness to provide every assistance to His Eminence in the performance of his pastoral work. His Eminence also visited the Head of the German Bishops of the Evangelical Church, His Eminence Archbishop Dr Huber, and His Eminence Cardinal Sterzinsky of Berlin, speaking with them of the importance of the role which the Church plays in the service of mankind in order to be a true image of the face of Christ manifested in the world. The meeting of His Eminence with his brother, His Eminence Metropolitan Augustine, the Greek Archbishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at his seat in Bonn, was extremely friendly, and they stressed the need for inter-Orthodox cooperation in Germany in facing matters of common concern and creating joint solutions in order to make progress in this field. His Eminence made an official visit to Mrs Regina van Dinther, the President of the Nordrhein-Westfalen State Parliament at her residence in the City of Dusseldorf, where she welcomed him warmly, describing the importance that the German government gives to providing every possibility for the dialogue of culture and faiths. His Eminence himself emphasized that our Church is a living example in the East of tolerance, dialogue and openness. His Eminence also visited the Head of the Municipality of Butzbach and thanked him for his help to our people and his cooperation in the project for the building of a new church for them. His Eminence visited the Archbishop of the Evangelical Church in the Kurhessen-Waldeck district, Prof. Dr. Martin Hein, at his residence in the City of Kassel, where they spoke together concerning the strong fraternal relations which have linked our Churches for more than ten years. His Eminence participated in a meeting of the Council of Orthodox Bishops in Germany (KOKID), emphasizing the importance of the Antiochian role in the Council. His Eminence also celebrated the Feast of Saint Demetrius, the patron saint of the Cologne parish, at which a representative of the Mayor of the City attended. The days of the visit were filled with friendly meetings and assemblies which brought the people together with their pastor, gathering around him in warm meetings and asking and seeking advice about the matters that concern them. Wherever he went, prayers were offered and afterwards people would gather around the table full of joy, happiness and gladness. Despite the long distances and the short time, His Eminence covered a large number of regions, from the City of Berlin to Cologne, Munster, Osnabruck, Wiesbaden and Butzbach, Karlsruhe, with the other parishes being put on the schedule for the next visit due to the lack of time. His Eminence also met all the priests who serve in Germany and studied the situation of our Antiochian parishes, and also had a productive meeting with the Supreme Council. Despite the lack of time, His Eminence has not forgotten the young people who serve in the choirs or who take part in various activities, giving them his encouragement, love and paternal blessing. His Eminence returned with his companions to Paris, giving all of them his paternal blessing and love and praying for the success, right guidance and blessing of the priests who serve in Germany, the Parish Councils and the Supreme Council, and thanking them for their warm welcome, attention and service.
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