On 10th October 2009 His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa received at the Patriarchal See His Eminence Metropolitan Kyrillos of Rhodes, a Hierarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, who was visiting Alexandria to participate in the Ordination of His Grace Bishop Savvas of Burundi and Rwanda, who was a member of the clergy of the Holy Metropolis of Rhodes up to his election. He had been seconded to the ancient Patriarchate many years previously.
Addressing His Eminence His Beatitude spoke of their long acquaintance, their common roots in Crete, as well as their fraternal spiritual ties which bind them from the Holy Monastery of Angarathos in Crete, in which they both served as monks. He also praised the hymnographic talent of His Eminence whom he thanked for composing the sung Service of the three Patriarchs of Alexandria Meletios Pigas, Ioakeim Panis and Gerasimos Palladas.
He ended by expressing his love, honour and support of His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios and the First Throned Church of Constantinople and then awarded His Eminence the honourable distinction of the Cross with Star of St Mark and then commemorative gifts were exchanged.
In his reply, His Eminence Kyrillos thanked His Beatitude for the honour bestowed on him, spoke with great emotion of their lengthy friendship and praise his multifaceted missionary work on the African continent.
His Beatitude then took His Eminence on a guided tour of the Patriarchal Mansion and hosted a lunch in his honour.
