A visit to the ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria was made on Friday, July 28, 2023, by the captain, officers and crew of the Greek warship A/C “Samos”, which sailed to the port of Alexandria as part of the annual summer training trip of the Cadets of the Permanent Non-Commissioned Officers of the Navy (SMYN) Academy..
During the reception of the men of the Navy by His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, initially a minute’s silence was observed in memory of the late Squadron Leader Christos Moulas and Second Lieutenant Pericles Stefanidis, who heroically lost their lives during the recent crash of the firefighting aircraft they were on to extinguish a large fire in the area of Karystos.
Then, His Beatitude addressed the numerous visitors. Referring to the historical course of the Alexandrian Church over the centuries, as well as to its current missionary and humanitarian work, he underlined: “We will continue to guard the historical, national and spiritual Thermopylae, keeping the legacy of our holy Predecessors, from the time of the Illuminator of our Church, the Apostle and Evangelist Mark, to this day, so that no modern Nightmare, from wherever it comes, can succeed in betraying them. Aligning ourselves with this solid tradition of our Fathers, we look optimistically to the hopeful future, which is Africa, where we work tirelessly for a better tomorrow for its children, filled primarily by the light of the Gospel and the Resurrection of Christ”.
For their part, the head of the SMYN, Naval Captain Mr. Kastrinakis and the Naval Commander of the A/C “Samos”. Mr. Panagopoulos, expressed the joy and blessing they felt visiting the Patriarchal See, while praising the sacrificial and quietly accomplished ministry of the Second Throne Church on the African continent, which the Navy will always honor and support with its powers.. This was followed by an exchange of commemorative gifts and a tour of the Patriarchal Palace.
Also present were His Eminence Panteleimon Metropolitan of Naucrati, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate, Naval Captain Mr. Michael Tsilingakis, Defence Attache in Cairo and Naval Captain Mr. Constantinos Varouxis, liaison of the Hellenic Navy with the corresponding Egyptian Counterpart.
