On 31st December 2012, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa received in his Private Patriarchal Office, according to custom, His Eminence Gabriel, Metropolitan of Leontopolis, Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria and the rest of the Clergy of the Patriarchate and the Holy Archdiocese of Alexandria, who sang traditional carols and offered their festive wishes. He then heard the carols and received wishes for the New Year 2013 from the pupils of the first and second grades of the Averof Lyceum of the Hellenic community of Alexandria, the students of the “St Athanasios” Patriarchal Academy of Alexandria as well as the staff of the Patriarchate. His Beatitude gave gifts and blessings to them all.
On the evening of the same day His Beatitude officiated at the Service of Great Vespers at the Holy Patriarchal Chapel of Ss Theodori in the presence of a large congregation, after which, in the packed Hall of the Throne, he presented the minutes of the past year 2012 and expressed his gratitude for the support shown by the Egyptian and Greek Governments as well as by the Hellenic and Arabic Orthodox Communities of Alexandria. He then went on to bless the Vasilopita of the Patriarchate.
Present at this festive gathering were representatives of the Consul General of Greece in the Great City, of the Hellenic and Arabic Orthodox Communities of Alexandria and of all the Hellenic Societies and Associations.
On 1st January 2013 His Beatitude officiated at during the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Alexandria and conducted the Doxology for the beginning of the New Year, together with His Eminence Gabriel, Metropolitan of Leontopolis and the holy clergy.
At noon on the first day of the New Year, His Beatitude visited the aged people of the Old Aged Home of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria, where he offered gifts and blessings.
