THE ENTHRONEMENT OF METROPOLITAN OF PILOUSION NARCISSUS

In the presence of Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria, the new Metropolitan Narcissus of Pilousion was enthroned in Port Said, Egypt

The bells of the great Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour in Port Said, Egypt, rang joyfully this morning, with the enthronement of the new Metropolitan Narcissus of Naucratis, which was performed by Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All africa, himself.

In a church that is one of the largest Greek churches of the Greek Diaspora throughout the African continent, which was once a place of worship for many thousands of Egyptian Greeks and which continues to be a real jewel of the Greek Community of Cairo and the Second Throne Patriarchate, the new Metropolitan thanked the numerous Greeks as well as the many Arabic-speaking Greek Orthodox who attended the enthronement ceremony. Among them, the local Bishop of the Coptic Church Mr. Theodoros accompanied by many Coptic priests who came to honor the event, and the Egyptian and in fact born in Port Said, Greek Ambassador Mr. Nikolaos Garilidis, The Governor of Port Said, the Consul General of Greece in Alexandria Mr. Athanasios Kotsionis, the Consul General of Greece in Cairo Mrs. Maria Zissi and the Vice President of the Hellenic Community of Cairo Mr. Michalis Grunstein, the President of the Cypriot Brotherhood of Cairo Mr. Alexandros Kazamias, the Chairman of the Arabic speakers Mr. Claude Nahas, Mrs. Chrysoula Theocharous, who for many years was the President of the now-merged Cairo Community of Port Said and many other officials.

It should be noted that the presence of the representatives of the Greek Community of Cairo was important as it coincided with their first visit after merging with the Greek Community of Port Said, opening a new chapter in the history of the Greek Egyptian community.

A new chapter, however, along with the enthronement of the new Metropolitan, who was elected on January 12 by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, was also the historic announcement by the Alexandrian Primate Theodoros of the beginning of the renovation of the Church of the Transfiguration which has been in existence for over hundred years. The Patriarch of Alexandria spoke about an historic event, thanking all those who contribute to this great work, for this symbol of the Metropolis of Pelusium that extends to three Egyptian cities, Port Said, Damietta and Mansoura, with a total of nine Greek Orthodox as well as Arabic speaking churches and their cemeteries.

"Your Eminence Narcissus, Jordan gave birth to you, Greece won you over, Egypt rejoices in you," said Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria, addressing the enthroned Metropolitan.

Emotionally, the new Metropolitan Narcissus of Pelusium, a Jordanian by origin, thanked Greece, his second home, as he said, for what it gave him, and the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and especially that he learned in depth the Greek language, which he loved so much as he is distinguished for his Greek speech, uttering verses of the Greek national anthem, “Taken from the sacred bones of the Greeks…”, expressing in the person of the attending Greek Ambassador his immense gratitude. “May the Greek flag always wave on high”, he said in a trembling voice.

"The most important enthronement is the one that will take place in your hearts," Metropolitan Narcissus said characteristically to all those present, who chanted "Axios" to him, with Bishop Germanos of Tamiathus and the Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St George Old Cairo, escorting him into the church for his enthronement ceremony, with the sounds of the chanting and the applause of those present.

"We will be beside the new Metropolitan of Pelusium", said the Vice President of the Greek Community of Cairo Mr. Michalis Grunstein to APE_MPE, emphasizing that the Community will contribute to the renovation of the beautiful Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour, which again today experienced days of glory, as in times past when it was filled to capacity with Greeks who lived in this beautiful Mediterranean Egyptian city of Port Said.

"My first priority will be the renovation of this church", stressed the new Metropolitan Narcissus of Pelusium in his turn, "as a debt to history and our ancestors", he concluded.

It should be noted that the new Metropolitan of Pelusium succeeds great figures of his predecessors, most of whom traditionally held the position of General Patriarchal Vicar of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and one of them was elected as Primate of the missionary throne, the late blessed Patriarch Parthenios.

The new Metropolitan Narcissus of Pelusium, is a graduate of the Theology Department of the Theological School of the University of Athens. He served in the Dioceses of Nicaea and Megara. From 2009 he offered his services to the Ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria. On 23rd November 2013, by proposal of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, he was elected by the Holy Synod as Metropolitan of Nubia, Most Honorable and Exarch of All Sudan. On 24th November 2015, by proposal of His Beatitude, He was elected by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria as Metropolitan of Accra. On 14th September 2016, he was appointed by His Beatitude as Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria. On 19th October 2019 by proposal of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, he was elected by the Holy Synod as Metropolitan of Naucratis. On 12th January 2022 he was elected Metropolitan of Pelusium by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.