On 4th December 2015, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa officiated and preached the homily during the Great Vespers at the celebrating Holy Patriarchal Church of St Savvas the Sanctified in Alexandria, together with His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Gabriel of Leontopolis, Patriarchal Vicar General and His Grace Meletios Bishop of Naucratis, Hegumen of the Patriarchal Holy Monastery of the same name.
On 5th December, His Beatitude conducted the Divine Liturgy at the above-named Patriarchal Holy Church, concelebrated with the aforementioned hierarchs and the homily was preached by the Very Reverend Paisios Larentzakis who spoke about our Holy Father Savvas the Sanctified.
Prior to the dismissal His Beatitude consecrated to the rank of Archimandrite Fr. Raphael Korovesis, parish priest of the Community Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Alexandria, appropriately praising him and also congratulating His Grace Meletios of Naucratis on the completion of his first year since his ordination as Hierarch.
Present at this two-day celebration were the Honorable Consul General of Greece in Alexandria Mr. Emm. Kakavelakis, representatives of Hellenic Associations and Societies and the entire Greek community.
It should be noted that the celebrating Patriarchal Monastery of St Savvas in Alexandria, is the religious centre of the Hellenic Community in the Great City of Alexander, it has been in operation since the 4th century A.D. and during its historic path this monastic habitat apart from a Patriarchal See, was also a hospital, almshouse, school cemetery for Patriarchs, etc.
Worth noting also is that within the main church is the precious treasure of the column on which according to tradition the Alexandrian Great Martyr Saint Catherine was beheaded, while on the Holy Altar within the Holy Sanctuary, Saint Nektarios Bishop of Pentapolis was ordained and received the Grace of Holy Priesthood.
