To the city of Benin, Edo State of Nigeria, lead his missionary steps the Metropolitan of Nigeria Nikodemus, on Sunday 15th December 2024.
At the airport of the city his Eminence was warmly welcomed by the parish priest Fr. James Igetei, together with his Father, Fr. Stephen Igetei and with the members of the community.
His Eminence, under the shadow of the patriarchal blessings of His Beatitude Patriarch of Alexandria, His Holiness Theodore II, traveled to one of the beautiful cities of Nigeria, known for its pure, good people who struggle for their daily survival, as well as for the abundant palm oil it produces, to support his flock from close, to spiritually reinforce them in view of the great feast of Christmas , to give an ear to their problems, and, especially, to celebrate with them the Great Supper of the Holy Eucharist, as the evangelical parable told us.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, which was celebrated in the Holy Church of the Evangelist Luke, he ordained Fr. James Igetei to a protopresbyter.
The parish of Benin might be small, but it is rapidly growing and it is showing a lot of promise. Already there are moves being made to build a new spiritual Orthodox centre with a Holy Church to house the ardent faith of the locals, always with the blessing of the Alexandrian Primate.
Mention should be made that a journey through a country such as Nigeria is quite a difficult and laborious enterprise.
It demands careful planning and organisation, but more than anything, it requires love and patience. Neither are the conditions favourable, nor is safety ever taken for granted. Anyone who chooses to dedicate themselves to the labour of missionary work, knows this and not only does it not hinder them, but it motivates them to work even harder to spread the word of Christ. All hardships and sufferings are forgotten when one sees in the kind faces of the faithful Africans the respect and gratitude towards the Church and the priests and witnesses their joyful participation.
