His Beatitude Theodoror II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, accompanied by His Eminence George Metropolitan of Guinea, Representative and Director of the Patriarchal Office in Athens, went to Lebanon, by invitation of Patriarch Aram of the Armenians, together with archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus, Patriarch Tawadras of the Copts and other official invitees, for the rite of the Holy Myrrh of the Armenian Church and the 100th anniversary of the Genocide of the Armenians.
In his address, His Beatitude spoke emotionally of the genocide, the preservation of historic memory, which is a candle of devotion, which emphasises our gratitude to the heroes and stimulates the patriotic and moral beliefs of all nations. He also said it is our duty to keep alive the memory of the genocide. This is not a memory which gives rise to feelings of hatred and revenge, but emphasises the responsibility of us all to fight for a different world; a world of understanding, and peace which honours and respects all differences.
After a few days, His Beatitude Theodoros II Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and His Beatitude Chrysostomos Arhbishop of Cyprus, accompanied by Protopresbyter Athinodoros Papaevripiades, His Beatitude’s representative in Cyprus, flew to Jerusalem. At the Jerusalem Patriarchate he had a private meeting with Patriarch Theophilos. Issues regarding their Churches were discussed, as well as the issue of the Archdiocese of Qatar, the facilitation of the Great Synod of Orthodoxy as well as the enormous issue of the place of Christians in the Holy Land and the Middle East.
His Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria concelebrated together with the Patriarch of Jerusalem at the Holy and Life giving Sepulchre of the Lord, where they prayed for the entire world, particularly though for peace in the Middle East.
