News from Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa

On 19th January 2013, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, received the courtesy call in the Patriarchal See of the Melkite Patriarch Gregorios III of Antioch and All the East, who was in Egypt. During the meeting best wishes were exchanged for the New year and the situation of the Christians in the Middle East was discussed. His Beatitude had the opportunity of presenting the missionary and philanthropic activities of the Alexandrian Patriarchate and Patriarch Gregorios with warm words expressed his admiration for the missionary work being undertaken by the Alexandrian Church on the African continent.

On 12th January 2013 His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa received in the Patriarchal See His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs responsible for issues regarding Hellenes Abroad, Mr. Konstantinos Tsiaras and His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Development Mr. Notis Mitarakis, together with their entourages.

On 11th January 2013, in the city of Ismailia on the Suez Canal, the Sanctification of the Waters took place, officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Gabriel of Leontopolis, accompanied by His Grace Niphon Hegumen of the Patriarchal Holy Monastery of St George in Old Cairo, with all due splendour and solemnity and in the presence of many faithful. Earlier on a bi-hierarchal Divine Liturgy had been celebrated at the Holy Metropolitan Church of St Minas in Ismailia followed by the Service of the Greater Sanctification of Theophany. Following the ceremony of the Sanctification of the Waters, a festive lunch was hosted on behalf of the Holy Metropolis and the Vasilopita of the New Year was cut.

On 7th January 2013, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, received at the Patriarchal See Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, exarch of the Committee of Eastern Churches of the Roman Catholic Church. The Cardinal passed on to His Beatitude the wholehearted personal wishes of Pope Benedict XVI of Rome for the New Year of Salvation 2013, as well as an invitation for the Alexandrian Primate to visit Rome in due course.

On 5th January 2013, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa conducted the Divine Liturgy and the Service of Sanctification at the Holy Patriarchal Cathedral of St Savvas the Sanctified.

Source: patriarchateofalexandria.com