The Captain, officers and non-commissioned officer cadets of the Permanent Non-Commissioned Officer School of the Hellenic Navy visited the See of the ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria on Thursday 25th July 2024 together with the crew members of the Greek warship A/C “Chios”, which sailed to the port of Alexandria as part of the summer training cruise.
During the reception of the men of the Navy, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa referred to the historical journey of the Alexandrian Church and its current productive presence and missionary activity in Africa.
He also underlined the valuable contribution of the Hellenic Navy in guarding the sovereign rights of our country within its maritime territorial waters, its essential contribution to the general international peacekeeping and deterrence of hostile movements missions in the Eastern Mediterranean or wherever, emphasizing “the unshakable trust of all of us towards the unwavering brave attitude of the Greek custodians of the sacred and holy things of our Nation, as well as the integrity of the national territory on land, sky and sea, under the blessing of the Almighty God of Peace and Justice… Praying fervently, we look forward to the fruitful fruits of the Tripartite Agreement between Greece-Egypt-Cyprus, we hope for the practical strengthening of the situation of the Eastern Mediterranean, as a calm sea of unbroken unity, peaceful coexistence and loving cooperation of the peoples around it and not as a turbulent sea of divisions, separations, but above all a tragic loss of unknown, but certainly desperate and suffering souls, who never reached the land of their dreams for a better life, which were drowned in the depths”.
In reply, the Captain of the A/C “Chios” Captain Kastrinakis expressed everyone’s joy and the blessing they felt visiting the Patriarchal See, while he praised the sacrificially and quietly accomplished ministry of the Second Throne Church on the African continent, which the Navy will always honor, and contribute to, with its power. This was followed by an exchange of commemorative gifts and a tour of the premises of the Patriarchal Palace.
During the above visit of the non-commissioned officers to His Beatitude in attendance were Their Eminences Metropolitans Panteleimon of Ptolemais and Narkissos of Pelusium, as well as Naval Captains Mr. Michael Tsiligakis, Defense Attaché of Greece in Cairo and Mr. Konstantinos Varouxis, Liaison between the Greek and Egyptian Navies.
It was preceded in the afternoon of the previous day by a reception on the carrier ship, following the invitation of the Captain, a worthy naval tradition and noble military protocol, for the institutional persons of Hellenism of the Great City, headed by His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodore II, to whom the honors prescribed by the Navy were awarded. The Venerable Primate was accompanied by His Eminence Narkissos Metropolitan of Pelusium, Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria.
