On 7th January 2011 the Minister of Education, Lifetime Learning and Religion, Mrs Anna Dimantopoulou, because of the recent terror attack on a Coptic Church in Alexandria, communicated telephonically with His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, to express the ceaseless concern and support of the Hellenic State towards the ancient Patriarchate and the general work undertaken on the African continent.
Mrs Marianna Vardinogiannis, a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, and Lady of the Apostolic and Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria, also sent the following letter to His Beatitude:
“Your Beatitude,
There are no words for me to express my sadness on the difficult moments which Christians in Egypt, especially in Alexandria are feeling, following the bomb attack on New Year’s Day.
My thoughts have been with you during the recent days, and I pray to God to protect you and give you strength to face these difficult hours and to erase all signs of violence in the country.
I pray that the New Year will bring peace and stability in Egypt again, so that they can be the basis of prosperity and development in Egypt, with which we have had many years of friendship and appreciation.
Hoping that I will soon have the opportunity of meeting with you again, please accept my most heartfelt wishes for a good year, full of health and success in your God-loving work, with the assurance that I will be with you for whatever you need.
With deep respect,
Marianna Vardinogiannis
Athens, 7th January 2011″
