Orthodox Pope hails Museveni

His Beatitude Theodoros II presents to President Museveni the Order of St. Mark at State House Entebbe

16/3/2011

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has received the Order of St. Mark, the highest in the Orthodox Church, in recognition of his good leadership, struggle for peace and justice in Uganda.

The Order was bestowed on him on Tuesday at State House, Entebbe by Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and the whole of Africa, His Beatitude Theodoros II, who is in the country for a one-week pastoral visit. His visit is aimed at assessing the social, economic and political developments in the country.

According to a statement from State House, the Patriarch also gave a scroll to the President as a mark of his accomplishments. The scroll is the top most recognition order in the Orthodox Church. He also received a silver cross as a mark of a shield that Orthodoxy regards as a source of strength, serenity and guidance.

The statement added that the Orthodox Church expressed willingness to help the people of Uganda in their quest for social, economic and political transformation.

Patriarch Theodoros, 57, commended the Government for its assistance to the Orthodox Church in Uganda. It currently has 300,000 Christians.

Theodoros told President Museveni that the Orthodox Church has a school in Alexandria that enrolls students from Uganda, to undertake a course in nursing. He added that when students complete the nursing course, they return home to serve the people of Uganda.

President Museveni commended the Orthodox Church for admitting Ugandan students in Alexandria for the nursing course which is beneficial to the country.

The Pope was accompanied to State House by the Archbishop of the Uganda Orthodox Church, Jonah Lwanga, Archimandrite Meletios Koumanis from Alexandria, Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Sekikubo, and Rev. Fr. Professor Peter Matovu, the Vicar General of the Orthodox church at Namungona.

Theodoros, who arrived in Uganda last week, is scheduled to conclude his pastoral visit today.

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