During the
first stop in his tour of South Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Kyriakos
Gerontopoulos met in Cape Town with Archbishop Sergios of the Cape of Good
Hope, with whom he discussed issues concerning the Archdiocese’s mission and
work in the regions within its jurisdiction.
Mr.
Gerontopoulos then visited the Offices of the large Hellenic Community, toured
the school and dance academy, and met with the President and many members of
the Community, who thanked him for his visit and talked about issues of concern
to the Hellenic Community.
On Sunday,
17 November, Mr. Gerontopoulos attended mass at the Cathedral of Saint George,
in Cape Town. In his address, Archbishop Sergios stated, among other things,
that “it is a particular pleasure for us to have with us the Deputy Foreign
Minister, Kyriakos Gerontopoulos. We talked about the issues of Hellenism
abroad on the African continent, and in South Africa in particular. We are
impressed at the interest he showed in all the issues, whether they concern our
Church or the Communities we have here. Mr. Minister, you are a representative
of the homeland, and we all feel satisfaction at this visit. Because Greece,
through your presence in Cape Town and in South Africa in general, is showing
that it stands by us.”
In his address, Mr. Gerontopoulos stated, “Your Eminence, fellow Greeks. I thank you very much for the warm welcome and your hospitality. I know that you are the best representatives of Hellenism here in South Africa. Wherever Greeks are, they are successful entrepreneurs and scientists, they raise families and are loved everywhere. The Church is a pole around which all Hellenes living abroad rally, because the Church gathers them to it in times of both joy and sadness. I was very pleased to observe that a very great effort is being made by His Eminence and our Community for Hellenism and Christianity. The church supports Hellenism, and naturally Greeks are close to the Church, because the two go hand in hand.”
November 18, 2013