MESSAGE FROM HIS BEATITUDE ON THE OCCASION OF THE FEAST OF THE SACRIFICE- BAIRAMI

Message from His Beatitude

THEODOROS II

Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa
on the occasion of the Feast of the Sacrifice – Great Bairami

(Alexandria 23^rd November 2009)
 

“A life uncelebrated, is a long road with no place to rest”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

           With this wise phrase our ancient ancestors expressed an important truth about the daily life of people: life without feasts resembles a long road, on which those who travel can find no inn to rest.

            It is an undoubted fact that on the historical route of communities with the struggles and labour it entails, people seek the opportunity for short breaks, in order to communicate more easily and to express the happy emotions they are experiencing, during their meetings with each other. The family home, the common joy and the festive enthusiasm are a pleasure, a strengthening and a blessing for the further paths of each one and of all together as a whole, both family and community.

            The blessing of God is greater still when this communication has as its reason the faith in Him and its expression which is worshipping Him. And during these days, faith to the One and Great God is expressed by our beloved fellow Muslim citizens through the Feast of the Sacrifice, Great Bairami.

            With these thoughts we wish to express our warmest congratulatory wishes to our Muslim brothers in the blessed and hospitable land of Egypt and throughout the world.

            We address our most heartfelt festive wishes, as well as our genuine love and honour firstly to His Excellency the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Mr Muhammed Hosni Mubarak and his dear wife Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, to the Great Sheikh of Azhar Dr. M.S. Tantawi and the Honourable Governor of Alexandria Mr. Adel Abib.

             We hope and pray to the God of love, of harmony and of peace that He will guard and bless the noble and progress-loving nations of Egypt, so that the peaceful co-existence of Muslims and Christians in our country may be the model for the nations of the world in works of solidarity and selflessness. Many years, productive and happy ones!

Theodoros II

Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa