The Greek Community of Alexandria visits the Ecumenical Patriarch
The most important island of the Greeks of Constantinople and of world Orthodoxy is the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Its history is enough to rank it as the strongest pole of religious attraction, among all the Patriarchates of the world. A visit, therefore, to this place of Christianity, is enough to feel the awe, the devotion and the magnitude that overwhelms your Being.
The delegation of the Greek Community of Alexandria, headed by the President Mr. Andreas Vafeiadis, consisting of the Deputy Secretary General Mr. Dimitrios Kavouras, the Community member Mr. Vasilios Zoues – accompanied by his wife Mrs. Villis Politis -Zoue, Secretary General of the Greek Orthodox Community of Cairo, and the Editor-in-Chief of the “Alexandrian Post” Mr. Gregory Chaliakopoulos, visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in order to meet with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
There, they were given a tour of the historic site of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and then had the honour of sitting as fellow diners at the meal that the Patriarch offered for them.
It was the most important and moving moment, which the invited Egyptians in the City of Cities experienced intensely. Initially, they toured the halls and the Holy Church of Saint George by Father Photios, where they were informed about the entire history of the Patriarchate, as well as about the Iconographic masterpieces that adorn the walls of the Church.
And when the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew entered the dining room for the meal, everyone stood up with due respect for the Hierarch of Orthodoxy throughout the world. A very sweet man, a personality who works tirelessly to promote Christian ideas, the fraternity of peoples, peace and good neighbourliness. Educated and cultured, His All-Holiness has for years been a point of reference for Hellenism and stability between the Greek and Turkish people. Earlier, during the meeting in his office, a few hours before he departed for the funeral service of Pope Francis at the Vatican, his reception was more than warm, cordial, while he spoke at length with the President Mr. Vafeiadis and the other members of the Greek Community of Alexandria.
He asked Mr. Vafeiadis with interest about the life of the Greek Community in Egypt, while with particular affection and interest he referred to His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria, with whom, as he stated, they are connected by a continuous dialogue for the Church of Christ. He asked that his wishes and greetings be conveyed to His Beatitude and stated that he would soon speak with him.
The President, Mr. Andreas Vafeiadis, expressed his deepest emotion for the honorary invitation to dine together and conveyed to His All-Holiness the love and wishes of the entire Egyptian Community!
Subsequently, he offered a commemorative gift to His All-Holiness, and he in turn gave his own gift of remembrance and love, both to the aforementioned President of the Greek Community of Alexandria, and to all the members of the mission, so that they might remember their time at the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Everyone was photographed with His All-Holiness in the middle, who did not disappoint anyone, so that all of them could take to heart the photographic snapshots of their honorary hospitality at the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Afterwards, the Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church and of Ecumenical Orthodoxy hosted a meal for the Alexandrian mission, where at the same table were present: the General Director of Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, His Eminence Metropolitan Agathangelos of Phanarion, the Chief Secretary of the Patriarchate, Archimandrite Bosporios, Protopresbyter Fr Constantine Bartholomeos, the Archon of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and Alexandria and former President of the Greek Community of Neochori, Mr. Panteleimonas Vigas (because of whom the two Communities met in the City), the current President of the Community of Neochori, Mr. Nikolaos Kalamaris, the Commissioner of Churches of Neochori, Mr. Michalis Chanoutoglou, the member of the Neochori Board of Directors, Ms. Loukia Kotaki, many students of the boarding school of the theological school, from Greece, who, following the encouragement of His All-Holiness, sang Byzantine hymns and even in different languages, receiving the warm applause of the Ecumenical Patriarch, all his fellow diners and of course the Alexandrian mission.
His All-Holiness spoke with everyone about various issues related to everyday life, about the Egyptian community in Alexandria, about his trip to the Vatican and the meetings there, and he referred in detail and thoroughly to various issues of ecumenical Christianity. In fact, he was clear on the issue concerning the autocephalous Church of Ukraine, the hostility that the Russian Church has shown towards Greek Orthodoxy, and he concluded that we are characterised with justice, righteousness, love and peace.
After His All-Holiness’ departure for Rome, all those dining with him stood up and wished him a safe journey and a safe return.
Finally, the Alexandrian mission, following the invitation of the Chief Secretary, Archimandrite Bosporios, visited his office where he presented everyone with souvenir gifts and publications of the Patriarchate, chatting with them and addressing the Editor-in-Chief of the “Alexandrian Post” with whom they trace their origins from the same place, Messinia, he told him with how much nostalgia he thinks of his homeland and politely asked him to convey his warm greetings to his homeland.
It should be noted that before the visit to His All-Holiness, the President Mr. Andreas Vafeiadis, the Deputy Secretary General Mr. Dimitrios Kavouras, the Community Commissioner Mr. Vasilios Zoues – accompanied by his wife Mrs. Villis Politis – Zoue, Secretary General of the Greek Orthodox Community of Alexandria, and the Editor-in-Chief of the “Alexandrian Post” Mr. Gregory Chaliakopoulos, accompanied by the Commissioner for Churches and dear friend of the Alexandrian mission Mr. Michael Chanoutoglou, visited the Holy Church of Panagia of Blachernae, where the General Director of Apostoliki Diakonia of the Church of Greece, His Eminence Metropolitan Agathangelos of Phanarion, was officiating, who was overwhelmed by the Christian flock of the Orthodox Church, from all parts of the world.
The visit to the Patriarchate and the meal hosted by His All-Holiness now constitutes a special and distinct honour for the Alexandrian guests, who felt most deeply what hospitality is like in the city of the Greeks!
Source: ekalexandria.org / Article– Photographs: Gregorios Chaliakopoulos
