On the Sunday of the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross, 4th April 2021, the third Sunday of Holy and Great Lent,during which the symbol of the Christian faith is honoured, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, officiated during Orthros and served the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy, concelebrating with the Hierarchs of the Alexandrian Throne, His Eminence Nicodemus Metropolitan of Memphis and His Eminence Nicholas Metropolitan of Hermopolis, at the Holy Patriarchal Church f St Nicholas in Hamzawi.
The Primate of the Second Throne Patriarchate, from the See of the Patriarchal Diocese of Cairo, spoke about the importance of this Christian feast as well as about the current Golgotha which humanity is enduring, which is none other than the Coronavirus pandemic.
‘We have reached the middle of this Holy and Great Lent. In the troubles, in our anxieties, in our weaknesses, we see a light. This light is the hope of the Resurrection. From the day we were born we have been ascending Golgotha… Kneeling from the pandemic all mankind is tired of ascending this Golgotha. Mankind wants a rest. He wants a break. He wants to sit somewhere to rest. ‘Hope for all people in God in whom we always have faith, is to raise their hands and thank the creator.’
‘It is a great blessing for us that our churches are open and so we can celebrate the Eucharist. It is a great blessing to be able to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. ‘This Body and the blood of Christ is the greatest medicine we take against the pandemic‘, stressed His Beatitude.
The Patriarch said that according to the order of the Patriarchate which is lost in the depths of the centuries, he comes to Hamzawi for the Feast of the Veneration of the Cross, to celebrate the Service for this great feast.
Also, the Primate of the Second Throne Patriarchate paid tribute to and reiterated his full support of the Elder Archbishop of Sinai, Faran and Raitho Damianos and the entire brotherhood of the Holy Monastery of St. Catherine of Sinai, who attended the Service of the Veneration of the Cross.
The Greek State was represented by the Consul General of Greece in Cairo, Mrs. Maria Zissi.
From the Hellenic Community of Cairo, present were the Deputy Chair Mr. Michael Grunstein, the Secretary General Mr.s Chrysanthe Skoufaridou, the Office Supervisor Mrs. Billy Politi Zoue. Also present was the Chairlady of the Hellenic Community of Port Said Mrs Soula Theoharos the Chairman of the Arabic speakers Mr. Claude Nakas and on behalf of the Association of Hellens from Egypt Mr. Vasilis Zoues. the Principal of the Achiloupoleos School Mr. Anastasios Anastasiou and education staff, among whom also was the Director of the H.S.C.C. Mr. Christos Papadopoulos.
The Brotherhood of Chios was represented by the Chairman Mr Lambros Benovias, the Philoptochos by the Chairlady Mrs Chrysanthe Skoufaridou, “St Mary of Egypt” by the Chairlady Mr.s Evangelia Theraiou and the Orthodox Spiritual Patriarchal Center of Subra by the Chairman Mr. George Zoumboulides.
Finally, refreshments were served in the Throne room. The Alexandrian Primate also welcomed a group of faithful Christians from Romania.
