HIS BEATITUDE’S MESSAGE FOR THE FEAST OF RAMADAN

On the completion of the holy month of Ramadan, I wish to express my sincere and fraternal wishes to our blessed land of Egypt as well as to all Muslims in the broader region of the Middle East, with the hope that the peace of God, the common denominator of the value system of all religious traditions which have flourished in the region, to prevail against every attempt to deviate towards division and violence.

Unfortunately, this year, Egypt has been marked by devastating terrorist events, with disregard of the life of our innocent unarmed brothers and sisters, who paid a heavy price of blood on the altar of endless terrorist absurdity. I pray ceaselessly to the God of Peace, of Love and of Reconciliation, that the vicious circle of violence will finally end. I pray ceaselessly that the ethos of dialectic love, will defeat the impassive polemical monologues.

I address particular festive greetings, with feelings of sincere love, to His Excellency the President of the Arabic Republic of Egypt Mr. Abdel Fatah al Sisi, with the prayer that God will grant him strength in his responsible duties, for the progress and prosperity of the people. In these responsible efforts, which he is trying to etch a new perspective for our beloved Egypt, a prospective which will be addressed to all citizens irrespective of religious self-determination, our prayers to the One and Only Creator God, are with him.

+ THEODOROS II

Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa

In the Great City

of Alexandria

24th June 2017