On 14th January 2011 His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa received in the Mansion of the Patriarchal Vicariate in Cairo His Excellecny Mr. Markos Kyprianou, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus.
During the meeting His Beatitude who travelled from Alexandria to Cairo especially for the visit of Mr Kyprianou, expressed the “gratitude of the Alexandrian Church to the blessed island of Cyprus, His Excellecny the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr Dimitris Christofias, as well to our sister Church of Cyprus and its Venerable Primate His Beatitude Chrysostomos, the Holy Monastery of Kykkos and the people of Cyprus, who always assist our Missionary efforts in suffering Africa”.
Making special mention of His Excellency President Christofias he expressed his gratitude to the Cyprus Government for its essential contribution to the operation of the Patriarchal School of Alexandria “Agios Athanasios”, the total renovation of the Holy Monastery of St Savvas the Sanctified, as well as the contribution of State land in the area of “Geri” for the creation of an Exarchy of the ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria in Cyprus.
His Beatitude also thanked the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus and Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus for his acceptance of the request for the creation of an Exarchy of the Patriarchate and the granting of a church in Nicosia for its liturgical needs, but essentially for the general real support of the Patriarchal Throne of St Mark.
Addressing His Excellency Mr Kyprianou, he defined him as a political man o honours Cyprus and contributes to the further promotion of the traditionally friendly relations with Egypt and His Excellency President Hosni Mubarak, to whom the Church of Alexandria expresses gratitude for the support and protection.
In conclusion he expressed the fervent wish that the Cypriot people will soon rejoice in the solution of its national problem. “Wherever I am, in whichever place in the world I am, when I speak of the supporters of the work of our Church, I always speak of the martyred people of Cyprus and from the depths of my heart I lift up my voice and witness to all for a solution to the national issue of Cyprus, because this is a just and God-blessed request”.
In his reply Mr Kyprianou thanked His Beatitude for the honour given him and both personally and on behalf of the Government and people of Cyprus praised the ceaseless contribution of the Patriarchate of Alexandria to the African continent, where many Cypriots live and work and enjoy his pastoral and social ministry. He ended by saying “That is why we will always support your efforts”.
An exchange of commemorative gifts followed and a pilgrimage of the Minister to the Holy Patriarchal Church of St Nicholas and the cell of St Nektarios, within the Patriarchal Vicariate. Present at the meeting were His Grace Nikodimos Bishop of Nitria and Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo and His Excellency Mr Konstantinos Leontiou, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus in Egypt.
