Following the end of the Patriarchal concelebration at the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Alexandria on 7th October 2012 by Their Beatitudes the Patriarchs of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros II and Serbia Irenaios, a festive gathering took place in the Throne Room of the Patriarchal Mansion, where His Beatitude addressed the Serbian Patriarch and awarded him the highest honour of distinction of the Ancient Alexandrian Church, the Great Cross of the Apostle Mark with a Star.
His Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch also awarded distinctions and commemorative gifts to Their Eminences the Hierarchs and the other members of the entourage of His Beatiitude Patriarch Irenaios. He then hosted an official lunch in the Great Patriarchal Refectory in honour of the Venerable Primate of the Serbian Church.
Present at these functions were Their Eminence Elder Metropolitan Petros of Aksum, Elder Metropolitan Kallinikos of Pilousion, Metropolitan Ioannis of Soumadia, Metropolitan Andreas of Remeziani, Metropolitan Nicholas of Ermopolis, Their Graces Gabriel Bishop of Mareotis, Niphon of Babylonos, His Excellency the Ambassador of Serbia in Egypt Mr. Dragan Bisenik, the Honourable Consul General of Greece in Alexandria Mr. Christos Kapodistrias, the Honourable Deputy Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria Mr Nicholas Kopelos, the Honourable Deputy Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Cairo Mr. Iordanides, the Honourable Deputy Chairmen of the Arabic speaking communities of Alexandria and Cairo, clergy and others.
