On 19th November 2016, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, arrived by air at the Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, in response to the kind invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, to attend and concelebrate with other Primates and representatives of local Orthodox Churches the seventieth birthday of the Russian Primate.
His Beatitude was welcomed at the airport by His Eminence Athanasios Metropolitan of Cyrene, Exarch of the Patriarchate in Moscow, His Eminence Alexandros Metropolitan of Kazakhstan, the Charge d’ Affaires of the Embassy of Egypt Mr. Amr Yiousry and other clergy.
His Beatitude is accompanied by the newly-elected Metropolitan of Carthage His Eminence Meletios and by the Reverend Athenodoros Papaevripiades, Exarch of the Patriarchate in Cyprus.
On the evening of the same day the Alexandrian Primate had a meeting with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow at the Danilov Monastery where they discussed topics of mutual interest, and His Beatitude gave to the celebrating Patriarch of Moscow a valuable Patriarchal Miter as well as a commemorative papyrus depicting holy icons and an inscription:
He who has a name for divine gifts
And is now on the Throne of St Mark
Theodoros of Alexandria
And who pilots the vessel
To the Hierarch and renowned Patriarch
Of Moscow and All Russia
Wise Kirill
Who as his name suggests is Lord of the Church
And who with venerable works and wise words
And works that emulate Christ leads the Church
Gives a fraternal kiss
On the occasion of his seventieth birthday
Saying to him:
Long life my beloved brother and may your
Patriarchal tenure last many years
And may you be the comfort of the Russian people
And a praise of the Church of Christ.
During the next few days a Patriarchal con-celebration and other celebratory events will be held at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, and the Alexandrian Primate is expected to have important meetings with political and business people of Russia for the promotion of religious tourism to Egypt.
