On Sunday, 25th Novemebr 2012, the feast of the Saint and Great martyr Catherine, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa conducted the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Patriarchal Church of St Savvas the Sanctified in Alexandria, where the marble pillar on which the Saint was beheaded is kept, together with His Eminence Seraphim of Zimbabwe and Angola, His Eminence Nicholas of Ermopolis, His Eminence Gabriel of Leontopolis Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria, as well as Their Graces Nikodimos Bishop of Nitria, Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo, and Niphon Hegumen of the Holy Monastery of St George in Old Cairo.
At the Eucharistic Gathering the homily was preached by the Bshop of Babylonia, who also expressed the respect, filial love and wholehearted wishes of the clergy and people of the Alexandrian Church for the Venerable Primate of the Throne of St Mark who on this day celebrates his birthday.
His Beatitude then conducted the Service of the Opening of the adjacent Holy Chapel of the Holy Apostle Mark and Nektarios, Bishop of Pentapolis which was dedicated to those who lost their lives in the plane crash of 11th September 2004, the late Patriarch Petros VII of Alexandria, the members of his entourage and the crew of the aircraft. Treasured in this chapel are the skull of St Ioakeim Panis and an imprint of the holy relics of St Cyrill Loukaris, Patriarchs of Alexandria.
A celebratory gathering followed in the Throne Room of the Patriarchal Monastery as well as in the lounge of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria where His Beatitude received the good wishes of his flock.
Present at the spiritual functions were His Excellency Mr. Nicholas Siphounakis, former Minister, the Honourable Consuls General of Greece and Russia in Alexandria, Mr. Christos Kapodistrias and Mr. Segey Petlyakov, the Honourable Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria Mr. Ioannis Siokas, Chairman of Hellenic Societies and Associations, teachers and pupils from the Hellenc Schools, members of the community and others.
