On 5th January 2010, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, together with His Grace Spyridon of Kanopos and His Grace Gennadios of Nilopolis, officiated at the Service of the Great Hours, Great Vespers and the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church of St Savvas the Sanctified.
During the feast of Theophany His Beatitude officiated at the festive Divine Liturgy and the Service of the Greater Blessing of Water, together with His Grace Gabriel of Mareotis, His Grace Spyridon of Kanopos and His Grace Gennadios of Nilopolis, at the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, in the presence of His Excellency the Ambassador of Cyprus in Egypt Mr/ Konstantinos Leontiou, the Honourable Consul General of Greece in Alexandria Mr. george Diakofotakis, representatives of the Hellenic Community, the Cyprus Brotherhood, Hellenic Sociateies and Associations of the Great City and many Orthodox faithful. Prior to the end of the Liturgical prayers, His Beatitude honoured the publisher of the “Apogevmatini” Newspaper, Mr. Konstantinos Sarantopoulos, with the office of Megas Arhontas Ekdikos of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
Immediately thereafter His Beatitude officially received at the Patriarchal See, His Excellency the Governor of Alexandria, Mr. Adel Abib, who was accompanied by a large group of high-ranking local Government officials, state security officers and other officers of the country.
Addressing his distinguished visitor, His Beatitude emphasized the excellent relations of friendship and peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims in the Land of the Nile, and stressed the traditionally very good cooperation between the countries of Egypt and Greece. HE ended by thanking His Excellency President Hosni Mubarak through the Governor, for his love and support of the multifaceted work of the Alexandrian Church, and honoured Mr Abib with the Medal of the Lion of the Apostle Mark, for his excellent cooperation and immediate response to issues regarding the general operation of the Patriarchate.
In his reply, the Governor thanked the Venerable Primate for the honour bestowed on him, as well as the Greeks for all that they have contributed historically to Egypt, saying that he wished that the presence of Hellenism in Alexandria would be strengthened again. He also announced his decision to change the name of the street in front of the house of the great Greek poet Konstantinos Kavafis, to “K. Kavafis Street”.
At noon His Beatitude officiated at the ceremony of the Blessing of the Waters at the Hellenic Naval Club of Alexandria. Eight Greek children fell into the icy waters of the sea to bring out the Precious Cross. The Patriarchate gave them all valuable gifts.
The Chairman of the Naval Club, Mr Edmond Kasimatis hosted an official lunch in honour of the Patriarch and the Officials.
