Within the framework of his visit to Egypt, His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Mr. Dimitrios Droutsas, accompanied by the General Secretary Mr Ioannis-Alexios Zepos and other staff members, as well as the Ambassador of Greece to the Land of the Nile Mr. Christodoulos Lazaris and the Honourable Consul General of Greece in Cairo Mr. Gregory Vasilokonstantakis, visited His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa on 19th October 2010 in the Patriarchal Vicariate of Cairo.
During their meeting His Beatitude spoke to the Minister of the recent activities which took place in the Patriarchal See in Alexandria – the convening of the Holy Synod of the Hierarchs of the Throne, the decisions taken, the ordination of the new Bishop of Mozambique as well as the meetings of the Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, within the Patriarchal Mansion.
He also presented analytically the pastoral work done by the ancient Patriarchate in Africa, mentioning especially the feeding and humanistic programmes, the clinical, educational and other beneficial institutions which are constantly being built and operated by the Alexandrian Church in the African countries, as well as the multifaceted service of the spiritual organization and enlightenment of the people.
His Beatitude also expressed the gratitude of the Apostolic and Patriarchal Throne both to the state and political leaders of Greece as well as to Egypt and its President, His Excellency Mr. Hosni Mubarak for their ceaseless support of and assistance to the ancient Patriarchate which “during its two thousand year and future journey will always keep the spiritual doors open, especially today, in the current tumultuous world which anxiously seeks truth, serenity and peace”.
His Excellency Mr Droutsas in his reply emphasized the “rich, well-known and significant work of the Patriarchate” and assured His beatitude that the wish of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs is “that this work be strengthened”. He said that His Beatitude Theodoros II is worthy of congratulations for this work and promised that he will soon visit Alexandria as well.
He was then taken on a conducted tour of the renovated areas of the Patriarchal Vicariate of Cairo, the prestigious Holy Church of St Nicholas, as well as the private residence within the building where Saint Nektarios Bishop of Pentapolis lived, as Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo during the 19th century.
