On Sunday, May 7, 2023, a Patriarchal Divine Liturgy was held in the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Alexandria by the His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, concelebrating with His Eminence Elpidophoros Archbishop of America, His Eminence George, Metropolitan of Guinea and, Representative of the His Beatitude in Athens, His Eminence Narcissus of Pelusium and Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria and the Most Reverend Germanos of Tamiathus Head of the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of Saint Savvas the Sanctified of Alexandria.
Before the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch appropriately addressed His Eminence the Archbishop of America, to whom, among other things, he said: “Both America and Africa are two continents whose names begin with the first letter of the alphabet, A. So these places are starting points for new steps, new visions, new hopes and great prospects. After all, our Lord pointed out that He is our A and Ω, our beginning and our destination. From the City of Alexander and the Apostle Mark, therefore, the start of civilization will always begin, as will also the illumination of the proud peoples of Africa… We thank you, Your Eminence, because in this not settled, yet always beautiful and blessed sea of sacrificial ministry and of the evangelization of the nations of tribes, you come as our contemporary and spiritual fellow-traveler, together with the Christian flock and the Lords of the local Church in America, under the wings of the All-Venerable Ecumenical Throne”. Concluding, His Beatitude gave to His Eminence the hierarchical pectoral medallion of the venerable first Pastor of America, Alexander.
In his reply, His Eminence Elpidophoros characterized the Primate of the Alexandrian Church as the peace-making father and reformer of the African land, Who through His struggle, as well as the struggle of the entire Hierarchy of the Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria, strives to spiritually regenerate the children of the Continent of the future through the Holy Gospel, but also to improve their lives through the establishment of health infrastructure, education and in general projects of progress and culture. To His Beatitude His Holiness offered an Hierarchical medallion.
A festive reception followed in the grounds of the Patriarchal Palace, as well as an official meal in the reception hall of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria, during which His Eminence the Archbishop of America was addressed by its Honourable Chairman Mr. Andreas Vafiadis, offering a silver disc with the emblem of the Alexandria Community.
Participating in the above liturgical and festive events were the Honourable Consul General of Greece in Alexandria Mr. Athanasios Kotsionis, Chairmen of historical Hellenic Organizations, Associations and Societies in the Land of the Nile, Lords of the Holy Archdiocese of America, the Honourable Mrs. Aikaterini Sofianou, Lady Archon of the Alexandrian Church, the Clergy of the Holy Archdiocese of Alexandria and a multitude of Christians from Egypt, Greece and America,
