ΗΙS BEATITUDE THE POPE AND PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA MEETS WITH HIS EXCELLENCY THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF GREECE

On 17th December 2016, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, had a courtesy visit at the See of the ancient Second Throne Patriarchate in Alexandria, with His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, in charge of Matters of Greeks living abroad, Mr. Terence Quick, who is on a three-day official visit to Egypt.

Present at this meeting were His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece to Egypt Mr. Michael Christos Diamessis and His Excellency the Consul General of Greece in Alexandria Mr. Emmanuel Kakavelakis.

At this meeting, His Beatitude the Patriarch briefed His Excellency the Deputy Minister about the work done by the ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria throughout the African continent, the missionary efforts it is making, particularly in the field of education, with the 2500 school and 4 University Institutions thoughout Africa, as well as the social and health care it provides to our suffering African brothers and sisters. He noted that it is now a priority to shift to Western Africa and its problems, where civil strife and the outbreak of the Ebola virus have not spared the people. He also briefed him on the presence and rich activities being done in all fields by the Hellenic communities in Africa and in conclusion, he thanked him for his support of himself personally and of the Patriarchate in Alexandria in general.

On his own behalf, Mr. Quick thanked His Beatitude the Patriarch for the warm welcome to the Patriarchate, expressed his respect for the “missionary”, Patriarch, as he characteristically said, thanking him for all that he offers to Hellenism and Orthodoxy in Africa. He spoke of the specificity of his visit, his desire to get to know from close up the Hellenes abroad who live and work on the African continent, pointing out that wherever he on his part could contribute, to find solutions to the problems facing the Diaspora, he would is it was possible.

At the conclusion of the meeting, His Beatitude gave the Deputy Minister the newly-published Volume regarding the thorough restoration of the Holy Church of St George Old Cairo, and on his behalf Mr. Quick gave the Patriarch a commemorative gift.