On Sunday 4th March 2012, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa coducted the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Church of the Annunication of the Tbheotokos in Alexandria, concelebrating with His Grace Gabriel of Mareotis, Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria and His Grace Nikodimos of Nitria, Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo, during which he ordained to the Priesthood the Deacon Apostolos Trifyllis, Director of the Patriarchal Library of Alexandria.
During his homily, Father Apostolos Trifyllis stressed the following: “Your word and action are priceless provisions at this moment when in awe I ponder on the holiness of the sacrament”. Many times you have said to me: “Christ is with all of those who believe in Him and place their hopes in Him. He, with His abundant love and philanthropy, transforms the weak into precious vessels and their disease he makes perfect with His strength”.
Your example of life matures me and sets me up. Making good of Peter’s command: “above all things have charity among yourselves, for charity shall cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8), you taught me that he who loves turns his gaze from the errors of the one he loves, as many as they might be, making them into an object of prayer to God.
You have taught me that compassion for our fellow humans attracts God’s mercy, according to the Lord’s word: “If you forgive others their sins, my Father who is in heaven will forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14).
His Beatitude spoke about the Theological content of the feast and the contemporary powerful presence of Orthodoxy on the African continent. He aslo soke of the feelings of joy which the enrolment into the ranks of the clergy of the Patriarchate of new, distinguished Priests creates, who are educated and are spiritually established, praised the productive contribution of Father Apostolos in the Patriarchal Library and metaphorically connected the name of the ordained priest with the responsibility of spreading the apostolic trust of the Throne to the people of Africa.
Before the end of the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy His Beatitude awarded the rank of Archimandrite to Father Apostolos and immediately thereafter the procession of the holy icons took place in the church and the usual memoriial prayers for the souls of the late Chairmen, Benefactors and members of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria.
Present at the Eucharistic gathering were the Honourable Consul General of Greece in Alexandria Mr Christos Kapodistrias, the Chairman of the Hellenic Community Mr Ioannis Siokas, the Chairman of the Cypriot Brotherhood Mr Haralambos Haralambides, Chairmen of community organizations, associations and many faithful.
