Holy Week and the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord in Alexandria
The services of the Holy Week were performed with religious devotion in all the Churches of Alexandria. His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa presided over the Paschal services, visiting the Parish Communities of the Great City.
In particular, the customary celebration of the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts by the Patriarch on Holy Monday at the Holy Patriarchal Church of Saint Savvas the Sanctified, the Sacrament of Holy Unction in the Arab-Orthodox Parish Community of the Theotokos of Alexandria and at the Holy Patriarchal Church of Saint Savvas on Holy Wednesday, the Service of the Holy Passion and the Epitaphios Lamentations in the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos and the procession of the Holy Epitaphios around it, officiated by the Patriarch.
In attendance were the Corps of Greek Scouts, the Consul General of Greece in Alexandria, Ioannis Pyrgakis, the President of the Greek Community of Alexandria, Andreas Vafiadis, along with members of the Community Committee, the President of the Greek Naval Club of Alexandria and the Association of Greek Scientists “Ptolemy I”, Irene-Lilika Thlivitis, as well as presidents and members of Greek associations, institutions, and numerous faithful believers.
During the procession of the Holy Epitaphios, the Patriarch offered a prayer for the repose of his late predecessors at the Patriarchal Palace, for the late presidents and members of the Greek Community of the Great City, and for the Great National Benefactors.
He prayed for peace to prevail in the strife-torn regions of the Middle East, Ukraine, and wherever people endure the trials of warfare and fratricidal conflict.
He conveyed his gratitude to the Presidents of Egypt, Cyprus, and Greece for their steadfast support of the Patriarchate. With heartfelt emotion, he expressed the Church’s praise and paternal love for the Hierarchy and Holy Clergy of the Apostolic and Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria, acknowledging their selfless and sacrificial ministry and their extensive missionary efforts among the peoples of Africa.
On the morning of Holy Friday, the Service of the Royal Hours and the Vespers of the Descent from the Cross took place at the Holy Monastery of Saint Savvas. Subsequently, the Patriarch visited all the churches and the Greek Cemetery of Alexandria, where he conducted a memorial service for the repose of the souls of Christians who have peacefully rested for centuries.
Finally, the Resurrection Service and the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy were celebrated at the Cathedral of Constantinople, presided over by His Beatitude, and concelebrated by the Hierarchical Head of the Church, Metropolitan Panteleimon of Ptolemaida, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, who also read the Patriarchal Proclamation for Holy Easter 2025 issued by the Patriarch of Alexandria.
The Consul General of Greece in Alexandria, Ioannis Pyrgakis, the President of the Greek Community of Alexandria, Andreas Vafeiadis, along with members of the Community Committee, the President of the Greek Yacht Club of Alexandria, and the President of the Association of Greek Scientists “Ptolemy A”, Irene-Lilika Thlivitis, as well as presidents and members of Greek associations and organiσations, and Greek and Russian faithful of Alexandria, all participated in the Resurrection Divine Liturgy.
Photographs: Metropolitan Panteleimon of Ptolemaida and Grigoris Haliakopoulou
