On Friday 28 December 2014, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa officiated at Orthros and conducted the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy at the celebrating Church of the Theotokos in Heliopolis, Cairo, on the Feast of the Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos as well as the feast of the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt, according to St Matthew’s Gospel narration. Celebrating together with His Beatitude were Their Eminences Nicholas Metropolitan of Hermopolis, Nikodimos Metropolitan of Memphis and Their Graces Bishop Meletios of Naukratis and Bishop Chrysostomos of Berenice. The homily was preached in Arabic by the Very Reverend Archimandrite Damaskinos Alazrai, who spoke appropriately about the meaning of the Divine Incarnation. Prior to the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy His Beatitude thanked the local Metropolitan Nikodimos of Memphis, praising his many years of exemplary dedication and inconspicuous ministry, both to the Throne as well as to His Beatitude, from the time of his stay in Zimbabwe.
Present at the festal gathering were the Consul General of Greece in Cairo Mrs. Lambrini Komini, the Deputy Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Cairo Mr. Kimis Flevotomas, the Deputy Chairman of the Hellenic Shelter of Heliopolis Mr. Zacharias Foumelis, the head of the Arabic Speaking Orthodox Scouts of Cairo Dr. Nadim Eskander and other dignitaries and a festal reception was hosted for the many people in the congregation.
