Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria blessed the construction of the multi-storey building at St Spyridon in Helwan

A new page in the history of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in the bustling and beautiful city of Helwan, 25 kilometers from Cairo, was blessed on Tuesday, May 19, 2020, by His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa when he did the service of the sanctification of water at the multi-storey building which is situated in the courtyard of St Spyridon which is loved by all Hellenes of Egypt.

In this area that was once inhabited by many Greeks, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, through the local Metropolitan Nicodemus of Memphis and Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo, is trying to maintain the hundred-year-old presence of Orthodoxy and Hellenism in this city.

The Alexandrian Primate went today to this beautiful area of Helwan, went today to see up close the important projects that are expected to breathe new life into this place where the Greek Orthodox Church, in which the late Patriarch Nicholas VI of Alexandria served as Parish Priest (1968 – 1986).

And conducting the service of the sanctification of water there, at the external entrance to the Holy Church, next to the building and singing “Christ is Risen”, the Patriarch of Alexandria entered the central construction site with the icon of St Spyridon leading the way, and placed a wooden African cross and a piece of blessed basil at a place that he, himself, covered with the help of the civil engineer, the person in charge of construction and the workers who were also present, at this project that is expected to change the image of the entire area of St Spyridon, Helwan.

And blessing all the contributors to the project but also the blessed country of Egypt, Patriarch Theodoros proceeded to lay the foundation stone of the space, wishing the Metropolitan of Memphis great strength for the completion of the project.

‘Our great concern is to maintain and upgrade all the premises of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, from one end of Africa to the other,’ said Theodoros, the Alexandrian Primate.

‘It was a life’s project, which now through his hands and the sanctification performed by our Patriarch, after so many years takes on flesh and blood’, pointed out the local Metropolitan Nicodemus with great satisfaction, being welcomed by the Chancelor of the Metropolis, Father Michael Zaky.

The multi-storey building, the construction of which has already begun, will meet the important pastoral needs of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria.

It should be noted that the existing youth spiritual center houses tuition centers, for five foreign languages, music and a art workshop, where about three hundred children, Christians and Muslims, have the opportunity to receive education under the roof of the Church.

Finally, it is worth noting that in four years time, in 2025, one hundred years will have passed since the establishment of the Hellenic Community of Helwan, which merged with the Hellenic Community of Cairo.