On 24th March 2018, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, officiated at the Service of Great Vespers at the Community Parish of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Alexandria.
On the next day, 25th March, His Beatitude officiated during Orthros and served the Divine Liturgy, concelebrating with His Eminence Narcissus Metropolitan of Accra and Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria and Clergy from the Patriarchate.
Present at the worship Gathering were the Consul General of Greece in Alexandria Mr. Emmanuel Kakavelakis, the Chairman of the Cypriot Brotherhood of Alexandria Mr. Haralambos Haralambides, the 2nd Deputy Chair of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria Mrs. Mary Pavlidou, the Financial Supervisor of the Community Mr. Paris Pefanis Makris and the Community Councilors Nicholas Kopelos and Andreas Vafiades, the Chairlady of the Association of Greek Academics “Ptolemy I” Mrs. Lilika Thlivitou, teachers and pupils from the Greek Schools of the Great City, Scouts, faithful Christians from the Greek and Arabic Speaking Community and other dignitaries.
In his homily His Beatitude in warm words spoke of the meaning of the dual feast of the Annunciation and the National Regeneration, the Most Holy Virgin, the All-praised Mother, who once again filled the Church of the Annunciation in Alexandria with those few Alexandrian Egyptians, and prayed that she would intercede that the seas which bridge the nations will be seas of peace and friendship among people. “Today the Annunciation has shone again, a church which will live in Alexandria to the ages of ages”, the Alexandrian Primate concluded.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, a Memorial Service was sung, and wreaths were laid at the two memorials which have been constructed outside the church.
“Greece was loved by few and envied by many…But, despite all this, Greece will live on to the ages of ages. No threat scares her. Long live Greece”, concluded His Beatitude, singing together with everyone the Greek National Anthem, which was followed by the Egyptian National Anthem, showing everyone the mutual fraternal journey of Greece, Egypt and Cyprus.