BRILLIANT INAUGURATION OF THE NEW RECEPTION HALL OF THE HOLY CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION IN ALEXANDRIA

On Sunday 28th May 2017, commemoration of the 318 God-bearing Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa officiated at the beautiful Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos of the Hellenic Community in Alexandria.

Present were His Eminence Narcissus Metropolitan of Accra and Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria, the Consul General of Greece in Alexandria Mr. Emmanuel Kakavelakis, the new Chairman of the historic Hellenic Community of Alexandria Mr. Edmond Kassimatis, the Chairlady of the Association of Greek Scientists “Ptolemy I” of Alexandria, Dr. Lilia Thlivitou and faithful members of the congregation.

After the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Alexandrian Primate gave to the Parish Priest the Very Reverend Archimandrite Daniel Biazis, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod, a Holy Icon of St Nektarios, Protector of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, done and donated by the exceptional iconographer Ioannis Pastellas, to be put out for veneration in the Holy Church, so that the Saint can be majestically honoured.

His Beatitude then went on to do the Inauguration of the renovated Reception Hall and the Office of the Parish Priest, adjacent to the Holy Church of the Annunciation in Alexandria. In his speech to those present and visibly moved, he thanked God for the great outcome of the completion of this important wor and praised the people who worked on the creation of this new area of spiritual relaxation, mentioning both the previous Executive Council of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria and the former Chairman Mr. Ioannis Papadopoulos, who with particular joy began the renovation works, as well as of the present Executive Council of the Hellenic Community, and its present Chairman Mr Edmond Kassimatis, who completed the work and handed it over to be used by the Hellenes of the Great City.

His Beatitude said characteristically: “Whoever visits Monasteries, is told to go to the Reception hall. It is the place where they receive and welcome their guests and visitors. It is a place where all become great, whoever they are, whatever they are. So, this reception room, right here adjacent to our beautiful Church of the Annunciation, becomes from today the place of meetings, dialogue, unity, mental rest, spiritual feeding, communication between the people who will enter it. This work, which was realized through the decisive contribution of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria, strengthens the presence of Hellenism and Orthodoxy in the Great City of Alexandria and in the Land of the Nile in general… We are all here, present, as an Ancient Patriarchate, two thousand plus years and we will continue to be here, looking to the future with hope and optimism, despite the difficulties and the obstacles which arise at times. It may be that only a few of us remain, but Hellenism continues to live and to create great things in Alexandria and in Egypt in general. And this is proved, today and every time that we inaugurate such works…”

A reception then followed for all present.