Immediately following the Patriarchal Con-celebration of the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa awarded the highest distinction of the ancient Patriarchate, the Great Cross of the Apostle Mark to His Beatitude Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, in the Throne Room of the Patriarchal Mansion. The two primates had met privately prior to this in His Beatitude’s Private Patriarchal Office.
His Beatitude also awarded honourary distinctions to the members of the entourage of the Patriarch of Moscow, His Eminence Ilarion Metropolitan Volokolamsk, His Grace Sergius Bishop of Soltsenogorsky, Protopresbyter Nikolai Balashov, Archimandrite Leonid Gorbachev, Exarch of the Russian Church in the Patriarchate of Alexandria, the other priests and deacons of the Patriarch of Moscow.
His Beatitude Kirill was addressed by Mr Spyridon Kamalakis, Archon Logothetis of the Throne and Theodoros Panagopoulos, Chairman of the Brotherhood of Office Bearers who also gave hi commemorative gifts.
His Beatitude also awarded the medal of the Golden Lion to the journalists present, Mrs. Maria Antoniades of the newspaper “TO BHMA”, Mr. Nicholaos Papachristou from the newspaper “KATHIMERINI”, and Mr. Aimilios Polygenes, head of the Romfea.gr agency for their contribution to Church news reporting, and to MNr. George Katsakioris, designer of ecclesiastical appurtenances for his created contribution to the Alexandrian Church.
The Venerable Primate of the Patriarchal Throne of St Mark then hosted an official lunch in the Great Patriarchal refectory in honour of His Beatitude Kirill and his entourage.
