The holy services of Great and Holy Week were conducted with particular religious piety this year, too, in all the churches in Alexandria. Particular mention is made of the customary service of the Pre-sanctified Divine Liturgy served on Holy Monday by His Beatitude in the Holy Cathedral of St Savvas the Sanctified, the service of the Divine Passion and the Epitaphios Service in the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, the procession of the Epitaphios around itofficiated by His Beatitude accompanied by the Greek Scouting Movement and with the presence of His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece in Egypt, Mr. Christodoulos Lazaris, the Honourable Consul General of Greece in Alexandria, Mr. Christos Kapodistrias, the Chairman of the Hellenic Community Mr. Ioannis Siokas, Chairmen and members of Hellenic Societies and Associations and many faithful. During the procession of the Epitaphios His Beatitude the Patriarch prayed for the repose of his late Predecessors in front of the Patriarchal Mansion.
On the morning of Holy Friday, the Service of the Royal Hours and the Vespers of the Deposition from the Cross preceded in the Cathedral of St Savvas and a while late His Beatitude the Patriarch venerated at all the Church as well as at the Hellenic Cemetery of the Great City, where he prayed for the repose of the souls of all Orthodox Christians who through the ages have fallen asleep. On the morning of Holy Saturday he officiated during the Divine Liturgy of the First Resurrection (Proti Anastasi) at the above Cathedral, where, according to the tradition of the Island of Kerkyra from where he originates, the Consul General threw clay pots in the forecourt of the Patriarchal Monastery.
On the night of Holy Saturday His Beatitude conducted the ceremony of the Resurrection and the Paschal Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Alexandria, where he also received the Holy Flame coming from the All Holy Tomb, which was transported from Athens to the Patriarchal See by air, by the generous care and initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affair of Greece. Finally, on the Sunday of Pascha His Beatitude officiated at the Vespers of Love at the Holy Patriarchal Church of St Savvas the Sanctified in Alexandria and then went on to visit the elderly at the Old Age Home of the Hellenic Community and attended the Paschal feast which was hosted by the Hellenic Community for all the community.
