TWENTY YEAR MEMORIAL FOR THE LATE PARTHENIOS III, PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA

           On the two days of 22nd and 23rd July 2016, and in the presence of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, the Patriarchate of Alexandria honoured the 20th anniversary of the passing of the late Patriarch Parthenios III of Alexandria in Cairo, the capital of Egypt.

Specifically, on the evening of 22nd July, a speech was given at the Heliopolis Orthodox Club of the Arabic speaking Community of Cairo, the foremost speaker being His Eminence Nicholas Metropolitan of Hermopolis, who addressed the personality and the activities of the late Patriarch Parthenios III, as well as his contribution to the Theological Dialogues of the Churches.

Also, greetings were given by Mr. Claude Naccache who was in charge of the organization of the function, and the final words were given by His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II, who graphically narrated the life experiences he had close to the late Patriarch, his Spiritual Father, whom he accompanied on all his missionary journeys, the Theological Dialogues right up until his final day in Amorgos on 23rd July 1996.

Deeply moved His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II, spoke of his Elder and Spiritual Father, the late Patriarch Parthenios, who, as His Beatitude said, was his benefactor, who taught him to love and to forgive the ingratitude of man. At the function, byzantine hymns and songs were sung by the young people of the Arabic speaking community, as well as by youngsters from Palestine who played traditional instruments and then a reception was hosted for everyone.

On the following day, 23rd July 2016, the Alexandrian Primate officiated during the During the Divine Liturgy and then went on to conduct the Memorial service of the late Patriarch Parthenios III of Alexandria, at the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of St George Old Cairo, together with His Eminence Niphon Metropolitan of Pilousion and the holy Clergy of the Egyptian capital.

Afterwards, everyone went in procession down to the catacombs of the Roman Tower where the tombs of the Alexandrian Patriarchs are and where their holy relics repose and with deep emotion His Beatitude conducted memorial prayers and laid flowers on the tomb of the late Patriarch Parthenios III as a token of ongoing gratitude and filial honour.