On 5th January 2013, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa conducted the Divine Liturgy and the Service of Sanctification at the Holy Patriarchal Cathedral of St Savvas the Sanctified.
On the Feast of Theophany His Beatitude officiated at the Festal Divine Liturgy and the service of the Greater Sanctification of Waters at the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Alexandria, together with His Eminence Gabriel Metropolitan of Leontopolis, Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria and in the presence of His Excellency the Ambassador of Greec to Egypt Mr. Christodoulos Lazaris, the Honourable Consul general of Greece in Alexandria Mr. Christos Kapodistrias, representatives of the Hellenic Community, the Cypriot Brotherhood, Hellenic Societies and Associations of the Great City and many Christian faithful.
Immediately thereafter His Beatitude officially received at the Patriarchal See, His Excellency Mr Mohamed Abes, Governor of Alexandria, accompanied by a host of high-ranking staff of local Government, State Security and other officials of the country.
Addressing his distinguished guest His Beatitude spoke of the long historic journey and dynamic presence of the Patriarchate in Egypt. He expressed his certainty regarding the progress and success of the Land of the Nile as well as his gratitude for the love and support shown by the Egyptian state for the multifaceted work of the Alexandrian Church.
In his reply His Excellency the Governor thanked the Venerable Primate for the warm welcome and the Greeks for the many years of excellent cooperation with the people of Egypt. He also expressed the gratification of the Government of Egypt for the continued presence and multilevel activities of the Second Throne Church of Orthodoxy both in the Great City and in Egypt in general.
At noon His Beattitude officiated at the service of the Sanctification of the Waters at the Hellenic Naval Club in Alexandria, a tradition which His Beatitude established and venerably maintains since the first year of his Patriarchal tenure. Students from the Hellenic Schools of the City dived into the icy waters of the eastern harbour of Alexandria to retrieve the Holy Cross. His Beatitude gave them all his blessing and valuable gifts. The honourable Chairman of the Naval Club, Mr. Edmondos Kasimatis, then hosted an official lunch in honour of the Patriarch and the entire community.
