BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR 2010 AT THE PATRIARCHATE OF ALEXANDRIA AND ALL AFRICA
On 31st December , His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa received in his private Patriarchal office, according to custom, the Assistant Bishops and the clergy of the Patriarchate and the Holy Archdiocese of Alexandria, who all sangs carols and gave their festive wishes. He then received the wishes of the African students of the Patriarchal Academy of Alexandria “Athanasios the Great”, as well as the staff of the Patriarchate. His Beatitude gave gifts and wishes to all.
On the evening of the same day His Beatitude officiated at Great Vespers at the Holy Patriarchal Chapel of Ss Theodori, among many faithful, after which in a packed Hall of the Throne, he presented his report for 2009 and expressed his gratitude for the support and protection of His Excellency President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, the Greek Government through the Consul General who was present, Mr George Diakofotakis as well as to the Greek and Arabic-Orthodox communities. He then honoured Mr. Byron Vafiades Chairman of the Hellenic Chamber of Commerce of Alexandria, and Mr Pericles Tsaparis, Church Councilor of the for their many years of service to the community and the Alexandrian Church. He then blessed the Vasilopitta of the Patriarchate.
Present at this festive gathering were the Honourable Consul General of Greece in , representatives of the Hellenic and Arab-Orthodox Communities and of all the Greek Associations and Groups.
On 1st January 2010 His Beatitude officiated at the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation in Alexandria and conducted the Doxology for the beginning of the New Year, together with His Grace Gabriel of Mareotis, patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria, His Grace Spyridon of Kanopos Hegumen of the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of St Savvas in Alexandria and His Grace Gennadios Bishop of Nilopolis, Secretary of the Holy Synod.
Following the ceremony, His Beatitude, visibly moved, sang the memorial service for the late Metropolitan Nektarios of Ganos and Horas, from Leros, Kalymnos and Astypalaia, who was his caring father and benefactor, during his many years of ecclesiastical life.
The Hierarch showed his concern for His Beatitude in many ways, since he served as a priest in the Holy Metropolis of Rethymnon. Later on, when he left for as Patriarchal Exarch in the together with the late Missionary, Father Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos.
At noon on New Year’s Day, His Beatitude blessed the Vasilopitta of the Hellenic Community and then went on to visit the elderly folk at the Kaniskerion Old Aged Home in , where he gave gifts and blessings and attended the festive lunch