Grand celebration of Holy Epiphany by Patriarchate of Alexandria
Early on Saturday morning, 6 January 2024, His Beatitude Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and all Africa presided over the service the Cathedral of the Annunciation. All the Hierarchs and priests of the Patriarchate attended prayerfully: Metropolitans Panteleimon of Naucratis, Narcissus of Pelusium, Germanos of Tamiatheus, Archimandrite Isaac, Head of the Seminary, Protopresbyter Fr. Panos Gazis, whom the Patriarch elevated to spiritual father, and all the students of the seminary performed their sacred duty towards the faithful of Orthodoxy.
Present for the feast day celebrations, among others, were the Ambassador of Greece to Egypt, Mr. Nikolaos Papageorgiou, the Ambassador of Cyprus to Egypt, Ms. Polly Ioannou, the Consul General of Greece in Alexandria, Mr. Ioannis Pyrgakis, with his spouse Katerina, the President of the Greek Community of Alexandria, Mr. Andreas Vafiadis, the President of the Cypriot Brotherhood of Alexandria Ms. Maria Formozi, the President of the Greek Yacht Club of Alexandria and the Association of Greek Scientists “Ptolemy A,” Ms. Lilika Thlivitou, the Secretary General of the Cyprus Brotherhood, Ms. Maria Pavlidou, employees of the Consulate General and members of the Egyptian Greek Community in Alexandria attended the Great Blessing of the Waters.
Visit of Governor Mohamed El Sherif to the Patriarch
Governor of Alexandria, Mr. Mohamed El Sherif, not only maintains a strong friendship with the Patriarch of Alexandria but also demonstrates profound respect for the customs of the Greek Community of Egypt and beyond.
Yearly, he visits the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, extending New Year wishes and greetings for the Christian feast.
So this year the two met in the Throne Room of the Patriarchate, where they exchanged their sincere wishes with love, friendship and mutual appreciation. Earlier, Metropolitan Narcissus of Pelusium welcomed the Governor as well as his entourage consisting of high-ranking officials of the Egyptian State, such as the Commander of the Northern Army Wing, the Director of the Security Service, the Rector of the Alexandria University, and the Information Security Commander.
The Patriarch extended wishes of health, strength, and a happy and creative New Year to the Governor and other officials. In response, Governor Mohamed El Sherif wished the Patriarch health, good luck, and expressed gratitude for his words of honor.
Diving for the Cross at Greek Yacht Club of Alexandria
The President of the Greek Yacht Club of Alexandria, Lilika Thlivitou, welcomed His Beatitude Patriarch Theodore II, the two Greek ambassadors of Greece and Egypt, Nikolaos Papageorgiou and Poly Ioannou, the Consul General in Alexandria, Ioannis Pyrgakis, the Secretary General of the Greek Community of Alexandria, Nikolaos Katsimpris, and the Financial Supervisor, Emmanouil Tatakis, as well as a number of official institutional representatives of Alexandria.
As they reached the edge of the pier, chanting the sacred hymns of the Orthodox Church, the Patriarch raised the Cross and cast it into the depths. His resonant voice filled the air, adding a divine melody to the picturesque scene, accompanied by the apolytikion of the Epiphany feast. Afterward, the Patriarch elevated a white dove, releasing it to soar freely in the Alexandrian sky.
Subsequently, he bestowed two doves upon the Greek Ambassador Nikolaos Papageorgiou and his Cypriot counterpart Polly Ioannou. These symbolic gestures, departing from their hands, conveyed the essence of the day—life, peace, love, and freedom
His Beatitude Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa, wielding the ceremonial knife for the Holy Vasilopita, initiated the ceremonial cutting. The two Ambassadors, the Consul General, the Archbishop of Pelusium, and the Financial Supervisor joined in, slicing pieces to be distributed among the locals.
Source: orthodoxtimes.com
