THE SUNDAY OF ORTHODOXY AT THE PATRIARCHATE OF ALEXANDRIA

With great magnificence and according to the Alexandrian Typikon, the Sunday of Orthodoxy was celebrated on 21st March 2021 at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Alexandria.

His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa officiated at Orthros and served the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy, concelebrating with the Hierarchs of the Alexandrian Throne, His Eminence and Patriarchal Vicar Narcissus Metropolitan of Naucratis and His Grace Germanos Bishop of Tamiathus.

The Alexandrian Primate spoke emotionally about a great figure of Christianity, Patriarch Theophilos Patmios of Alexandria who was to play one of the most important roles in the Greek Revolution of 1821, fighting vigorously for the freedom of the Greek nation, just a few hours before the completion of 200 years since March 25, 1821.

In the presence of the consular and parish authorities, the Patriarch of Alexandria spoke from the heart about the two hundred years since the Greek Revolution of 1821, emphasizing that ‘if, my children, during the sacred struggle of 1821, our seventh Ecumenical Patriarchate a Patriarch Gregory XI to show, if Greece has a Palaion Patron Germanos to present, then the Patriarchate of Alexandria has the Patriarch Theophilos Patmios of Alexandria and the clergy that declared Orthodoxy and Hellenism to present”.

‘Two hundred years of hope for a Greece and a Cyprus that raise the Cross of Orthodoxy, that thousands of children are baptized in Africa! Two hundred years now that the banner of Freedom waves for the nations of the earth to live free. And we, as a Nation of the Greeks, to chant and sing softly ‘Rejoice, Oh, Rejoice Freedom’, said the Alexandrian Primate, honoring the Patriarch of Alexandria at the time of the national liberation struggle, Theophilos Patmios, who came as a national and religious aide to the Revolution of 1821 and who, through his words, deeds and self-sacrifice, emerged as one of the levers of the National uprising. In fact, it is characteristic that Alexandros Ypsilantis called Theophilos ‘the glory of the Patriarchs, the glory of the Nation and the support of Greece‘, as is recorded by the Patriarchate of Alexandria in its historical records.

In the presence of the Consul General of Greece in Alexandria Mr Athansios Lotsionis, the Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria Mr. Ioannis Siokas, the President of the Cypriot Brotherhood of Egypt Mrs. Maro Formozi, the President of the Ptolemaian and the Hellenic Naval Club of Alexandria Mrs. Lilika Thlivitiou, the President the Lyceum of Greek Ladies of Alexandria Mrs. Aliki Antoniou and the Vice Chairman of the Community Mr. Andreas Vafiades and of the Secretary General Mr. Dimitri Kavouras and the entire Alexandrian Community who came to pay tribute to the Memorial of the Benefactors of the Community, the Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria spoke about ‘the memory and gratitude to the Benefactors of the Greek Community of Alexandria and the whole parish and those who fought for the homeland, concluding:

‘The nations of the earth live by their history. And they do not die! ‘Because they know how to sing and chant their freedom.’ Just the news of the Greek Revolution became known in Alexandria on March 31, 1821 by a Moraitan ship owner who arrived with a cargo on behalf of the Tositsas Brothers from Methoni and announced it at the home of the Tositsas. And where in the same house, twelve years later, the emotional hoisting of the Greek flag took place, with Michael Tositsas himself being appointed as the first Consul General of Greece in Alexandria.