On the afternoon of Friday 5 July 2024, His Eminence Metropolitan Bartholomew of Polyana and Kilkis marked his fifth day of his stay in Uganda by paying a visit to the seat of the Holy Bishopric of Jinja and Eastern Uganda in the adventure city of Jinja.
The Hierarch from the Church of Greece was received at Holy Resurrection Cathedral – Jinja by the Titular Metropolitan of Sozusa, His Eminence Innocentios Byakatonda, with the blessings of the Diocesan Bishop Silvester Kisitu who was not physically present.
After getting an entertaining welcome in form of contemporary and folk music dance by the children of Holy Resurrection Orphanage, the visiting Metropolitan, together with his entourage which included his Protosyncellus Fr Epiphanios from St Nectarios Monastery in Greece, Fr Nicholas Bayego from St Nicholas Cathedral – Holy Metropolis of Kampala, Fr Christophoros Muyingo from Nkonge Orthodox Community; were led to the Cathedral by the Vicar General Fr Chrysostomos for the Doxology Service.
In his address, Metropolitan Innocentios conveyed the welcoming message from Bishop Silvester to his counterpart Metropolitan Bartholomew in which blessings for the continuity of Orthodox mission in the young Diocese of Jinja was emphasized.
On the other hand, Metropolitan Bartholomew expressed gratitude for the apostolic work being done in Eastern Uganda and prayed for its progress, and also appreciated the love and hospitality he experienced.
The visiting team afterward took a guided tour around the premises of the sea including the construction site of the Diocese House. Metropolitan Innocentios gifted Metropolitan Bartholomew an engolpion (Panagia) whereas the host Bishop gifted him his portrait through the Vicar General.
The visitors were then hosted to a dinner in the Diocese Gardens together with the Diocese staff including Reverand Fathers; Steven Lunagula – Dean of Nakabaale, Protopresbyter John Ngobi and Fr Joseph Panuha from St Paul Nakabaale parish.
His Eminence Metropolitan Bartholomew who serves in the Holy Metropolis of Polyana and Kilkis in the geographic area of Macedonia in Greece, arrived on Monday 1 July 2024 at Entebbe International Airport ahead of his ten-day visit to the Pearl of Africa.
