On Friday 9th March 2018, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa conducted the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, at the Chapel of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebasta, on the first level of the renovated Catacombs, in the Monastery of St George in Old Cairo.
Present were His Eminence Nikodimos Metropolitan of Memphis and Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo, the Hegumen of the ancient Monastery His Grace Theodoros Bishop of Babylonia, the Brothers from the Monastery and faithful Christian who came to honour the Martyrs.
Immediately afterwards, His Beatitude descended the grand revolving stairs of the imposing Rotunda, where within its interior, in an underground Roman stoa, in elaborate reliquaries rest the bones of the late Patriarchs of Alexandria, keeping alive their sacred legacy. There, Primate Theodoros conducted the o Service for the repose of their souls.
In the evening he officiated at the 3rd Stasis of the Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos in Heliopolis, Cairo, in the Holy Metropolis of Memphis, together with the local Metropolitan Nikodimos of Memphis, Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo and His Grace Theodoros Bishop of Babylonia, in the presence of His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece in Cairo Mr. Michael Christos Diamessis, the Representative of the Hellenic Community of Cairo Mrs. Billy Politou-Suez and many Christians.
According to prevailing Patriarchal Order, His Beatitude the Patriarch, on the 3rd Sunday of Lent (Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross), goes to Cairo and officiates at the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church of St Nicholas.
On the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross, 11th March 2018, His Beatitude the Patriarch Officiated at Orthros and conducted the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy, in the imposing Patriarchal Church of St Nicholas in Cairo, concelebrating with the Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo His Eminence Nikodimos, the Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St George His Grace Bishop Theodoros of Babylonia, the Exarch of the Patriarchate of Moscow Fr. Viktor Kulanga, and the Clergy, and before the dismissal he did the Service of the Veneration of the Cross according to the established Order.
Present at the Eucharistic Gathering were the Greek Ambassador Michael-Christos Diamessis, the Cypriot Ambassador Mr. Haris Moritsis, the Consul General of Greece Mr. Gerge Daskalopoulos, the Military Attaché of Cyprus in Egypt, the Chairman of the Community of Arabic Speakers Mr. Farid Houri, a Representative of the Hellenic Community of Cairo, as well as other dignitaries.
The Alexandrian Primate spoke in simple but heartfelt words about the Precious Cross and prayed that it would protect Egypt, Greece and Cyprus, and speaking of the drama of the refugees who have arrived in Greece and other European countries, seeking a better day for themselves and their families, he read a special prayer so that the uprooted people may have courage.
