With the Grace of God and the blessing of Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa, the important spiritual work of the Orthodox Church continues in the country of Eritrea.
At the request of the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Aksum, His Eminence Archbishop Daniel, Assoc. Professor Dr. Christos Karydis and President of the Department of Environment of the Ionian University, with the help of Mr. Vasilios Giannopoulos, recorded and documentation of all the portable icons, paintings, and church fabrics (in total more than 47 pieces), which are stored in the historic Church of the Annunciation of Theotokos in Asmara.
The aim and purpose of the recording is to document all works of art as well as to record the damages for future maintenance. During the recording, Mr. Karydis found himself in front of works of high artistic expression, possibly by an academic painter. Further research will be carried out to identify them. The professor, after completing the study, will submit a report with the results to the Holy Archdiocese of Aksum and the Greek Community of Asmara.
After this, the delegation of the Archdiocese visited the Greek Orthodox cemetery of Asmara, where Archimandrite Father Stefanos Katiforis held a memorial service “Trisagion” for the repose of all the members of the Greek Community of Asmara and all those who rest in its place.
After the “Trisagion”, a recording and photography was conducted by Dr. Christos Karydis of all the sculptures that adorn the tombs of famous Greeks who were born or died in Asmara, with the aim of expanding the research and realising a future edition with the sculptures and monuments of the Greek cemetery.
In the afternoon of the same day, in the Church of the Virgin Mary, the Sacrament of the Holy Unction was serviced by Father Stefanos, “for the healing of soul and body” of the members of the Church.
