Величанствена прослава у манастиру Светог Ђорђа у Каиру

With particular brilliance and the participation of hundreds of faithful Christians, the memory of the glorious Great Martyr St George the Victorious was celebrated, in the unique monastic Greek Orthodox and Pan-Orthodox pilgrimage site in Egypt, the so-called “Second Rotunda of the East”, at the God-walked Patriarchal Monastery of the same name in Old Cairo.

On Wednesday 25th April, Theodoros II, the Alexandrian Primate met at the Holy Monastery of St George Old Cairo with His Excellency Mr. Yevgeny Kuyvashev, Governor of the Sverdlovsk region of Yekaterinburg, in the presence of His excellency the Ambassador of the Russian Federation Mr. Serge V. Kirpichenko, with whom they discussed matters of mutual interest.

Immediately afterwards, he received His Grace Bishop Gregory of Agara and Tsalka (of the Georgian Patriarchate), together with a group of nuns from the Holy Monastery of St Nina, guided by their Abbess, who are undertaking a pilgrimage with the blessing of His Beatitude Ilya II Catholic Patriarch of Georgia, to the God-walked places of Egypt.

His Beatitude the Catholic Patriarch Ilya II of All Georgia, responding to a request from the Alexandrian Primate, gave to the Holy Monastery of St George Old Cairo, 2 nuns, in order to help with the work there, in the service of the faithful pilgrims flocking there daily.

On Thursday afternoon, 26th April, the Great Patriarchal Vespers were sung, officiated by His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, the Alexandrian Primate. Present were the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus in Egypt Mr. Haris Moritsis, the Consul General of Greece in Cairo Mr. George Daskalopoulos, representatives of Greek and Arabic speaking Communities and the Hellenic Scouts.

In his address His Beatitude referred to the Saint, saying that the Great Martyr George is respected and loved throughout the Christian as well as the Muslim world, which is why at the pilgrimage site in Cairo, hundreds of faithful Christians and Muslims flock there to pay their respect to the Saint. He once again expressed his gratitude to Athanasios and Marina Martinos, for their decisive contribution to the restoration and renovation of the Monastery.

On the actual day, His Beatitude the Patriarch officiated at the Celebratory Divine Liturgy together with His Eminence Nicholas Metropolitan of Ermopoulis, His Eminence Nicodemus of Memphis, His Eminence Niphon of Pilousion and Their Graces Gregory of Agara and Tsalka (of the Georgian Patriarchate) and Theodoros of Babylonos.

Present at the worship Gathering were also His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece in Egypt Mr. Michael-Christos Diamessis, the Consul General of Greece in Cairo Mr. George Daskalopoulos, representatives of Greek and Arabic speaking Communities in Cairo as well as the Arabic speaking Scouts.

Immediately afterwards, the procession of the miraculous Icon of the Great Martyr St George too place around the Holy Church, with the participation of hundreds of devout pilgrims.

The normal monastic offering was then given in the Throne Room, during which His Eminence Archbishop Damianos of Sinai arrived, to pay his respects and convey his festive wishes to the Alexandrian Primate.

Source: Patriarchate of Alexandria