THE CELEBRATION OF THEOPHANY IN ALEXANDRIA

Holy Theophany was celebrated in Alexandria with all magnificence and splendor on Wednesday, January 6, 2021.

His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa officiates during Orthros and presided over the Divine Liturgy concelebrating with the Hierarchs of the Alexandrian Throne, His Eminence Narcissus Metropolitan 0f Naucratis and His Grace Germanos Bishop of Tamiathus.

The Patriarchal Divine Liturgy took place in the conditions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, but also with the prayer expressed by Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria with hope for the future and his gratitude to the Egyptian authorities which permit the Liturgy in the churches, the Great Sanctification of Theophany took place in the imposing Community Church of the Annunciation in Alexandria.

‘In this great city of Alexandria, I would like to thank God that, with the permission of the state authorities, we have the opportunity to keep our churches open. And to greet today our brothers in Greece, the Prime Minister, the Archbishop, and in Cyprus, the President and the Archbishop ‘, stressed the Alexandrian Primate.

In his address Patriarch Theodoros greeted “all our brothers and sisters through the world who today celebrate and rejoice with us. Some in sadness at home, but the blessing of God will come to their hearts and yet others hoping for a better future”.

The Primate of the Second Throne Ancient Patriarchate also warmly thanked the Consul General of Greece, Mr. Athanasios Kotsionis, honoring in his person all the diplomatic missions that carry the greatness of Greece to the lengths and breadths of the world.

He also greeted the Greek Communities, the Brotherhoods and the Associations of the community, from which present were the President of the Hellenic Naval Club of Alexandria and ‘Ptolemy’ Mrs. Lilika Thlivitou, the Vice President of the Hellenic Community of Cairo Mr. Michael Grunstein, and other dignitaries.

‘May the blessing of God be with us, may the good old days come again, and may we all together – as one family – always have the blessing of Christ. This loneliness tires man. When we are all together it is paradise on earth ‘, pointed out the Patriarch of Alexandria, praying that “the blessing of the baptized Jesus Christ be courage, hope and light in the darkness – and often in the disappointment – of the pandemic. And let our Mediterranean region, which has been sanctified for so many years, send today the message of the reconciliation of the nations’.

It should be noted that for the first time this year the ceremony of the Sanctification of the Mediterranean Waters was not held at the facilities of the Hellenic Naval Club of Alexandria and the Patriarch of Alexandria Theodoros did not throw the Holy Cross into the sea, as the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the historic club fully complied with the instructions of the Egyptian authorities to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.