HIS BEATITUDE AT THE SERVICE OF THE VENERATION OF THE CROSS IN CAIRO

On Friday 5^th April 2013, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa officiated at the service of the third Stasis of the Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos at the community Church of the Glorious Saints Constantine and Helen, Equal to the Apostle, in Cairo, accompanied by the Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo His Grace Nikodimos, Bishop of Nitria, and His Grace Niphon of Babylonia, Hegumen of the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of St George in Old Cairo, and in the presence of His Excellency the Ambassador for Greece in Cairo Mr. Christodoulos Lazaris, Members of the Management Committee of the Hellenic Community of Cairo and many faithful.

                On the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross, 7^th April 2013, His Beatitude the Patriarch officiated during Matins and conducted the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St Nicholas in Cairo, concelebrating with the Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo His Grace Nikodimos Bishop of Nitria, the Hegumen of the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of St George in Old Cairo Hs Grace Bishop Niphon and the holy clergy, and prior to the dismissal he conducted the ceremony of the Veneration of the Cross according to the Typikon of the Church.

                Present at the Eucharistic gathering were the Greek Ambassador Mr. Christodoulos Lazaris, the Cypriot Ambassador Mr. Sotos Liasidis, the Consul General of Greece in Cairo Mr. Ioannis Hatzantonakis, the Cypriot Consul Mr. Fotis Fotiou, the Chairman of the Arabic speaking community Mr. Rober Hosni, the Vice Chairman of the Hellenic Community of CairoMr. Kimis Flevotomas, the Lady of the Churches Mrs. Stella Kyriazi, representatives of community societies and associations, as well as other dignitaries. Immediately afterwards, the Alexandrian Primate spoke appropriately regarding the significance of the feast, the meaning of the Precious Cross in the life and struggle of the faithful, as well as on the sacrificial love of Christian faithful towards their fellow human beings.