January 2005
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NEW YEAR AT THE PATRIARCHATE OF ALEXANDRIA
The cutting of the traditional New Year Cake (Vasilopitta)
was done on the night of Friday 31st December 2004 by His Beatitude
Theodoros II Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa in the
Great Hall of the Patriarchal Monastery of St Savvas.
The Patriarchate of Alexandria bade farewell to
2004 with many works still being developed and with the renovations
being continued as the Patriarch had promised.
On the last day of the year, groups of scholars
from the schools of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria sang New Year
Carols for His Beatitude.
On the afternoon of the same day, he received the
clergy and lay staff who work in the offices of the Patriarchate of
Alexandria, as well as the Greek and Arab-spekaing priests of the city
who had come to wish him a happy New Year.
His Beatitude then gave out the customary gifts to
the priests, the staff of the Patriarchate and to all those who assist
him in his work.
After the service of Great Festal Vespers,
accompanied by the clergy of the Patriarchate, the local residents and
the pilgrims, His Beatitude went to the Great Hall of the Monastery of
St Savvas where he cut the Vasilopitta.
Present at the ceremony were the representative of
the Greek Consulate in Alexandria Mr Dimitris Diamantis, the Vice
Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria Mr Dimitris Vafiades,
the President of the Arab-speaking Orthodox Community Mr Gabriel Nahas
and many residents.
Following the relevant service and the cutting of
the Vasilopitta, His Beatitude referred to the ordination of new
Metropolitans for the Metropolies which were vacant following the
accident of 11th September 2004. Special emotions were felt when His
Beatitude mentioned his predecessor Petros VII of Blessed Memory, as
well as his separate mention of every member of the Preisthood from
his entourage who was tragically killed after the fall of the
helicopter, as well as of the lay members accompanying the late
Patriarch and the crew of the helicopter. In continuation he mentioned
the importance and the significant and multifaceted work of the
Patriarchate of Alexandria throughout the African continent. He
mentioned the missions throughout Africa, referring to many
shocking personal events. Finally, through the Person of the
representative of the Greek Consulate he thanked the Motherland of
Greece for supporting the work of the Patriarchatge, through the
Hellenic Community representative he thanked the residents and through
Mr Nahas the Arab-speaking Orthodox Christians, the youth who attended
the ceremony and gave them the necessary advice for the new year, and
then thanked all for the love with which they have surrounded
him since he first arrived in Alexandria.
The speech was translated into Arabic by Presvytera
Zihran, wife of Father Petros Mazgar Parish Priest of the Church of St
Anthony.
All present then sang the New Year carols and His
Beatitude gave out pieces of the Vasilopitta.
On the first day of the New Year the Patriarchate
conducted the Divine Liturgy accompanied by the clergy of the
Patriarchate and of the city.
Following the Divine Liturgy a Doxology for the New
Year was sung, led by His Beatitude. Mr Dimitris Diamantis represented
the Greek Consulate, and Mr Dimitris Vafiades, the Vice President,
represented the Hellenic Community of Alexandria. Following the
Doxology, His Beatitude wished health and strength for all and
that the peace of God would reign in Egypt, Greece and the whole
world.
His Beatitude then received the good wishes of all
in the Great Hall of the Monastery.
The Primate of the Alexandrian Throne accompanied
by the clergy of the Throne, then went to the Hellenic Community of
Alexandria for the cutting of the Vasilopitta.
The ceremony took place in the lounge of the
Hellenic Community of Alexandria and present were the members of the
Hellenic Community and the staff of the Greek Consulate. After the
customary prayers and His Beatitude's wishes for the New Year, the
Vasilopitta was cut and the Patriarchate gave out the pieces to all.
His Beatitude then visited the Old Age Home of the
Hellenic Community and wished a good year for the elderly people. For
the first time, the Patriarch asked that all the elderly people and
the staff of the institution sit with him at the festal table.
At noon on the next day, January 2nd 2005, at the
Patriarchal Lunch, His Beatitude cut the Vasilopitta for the clergy
and the staff of the Patriarchate.
HOLY EPIPHANY AT THE PATRIARCHATE
On 6th January 2005, Holy Epiphany was celebrated
with exceptional splendour and particular grandeur at the historic
Throne of St Mark at the most ancient patriarchate of Alexandria and
at the Holy Patriarchal Church of St Savvas the Sanctified during
which the Divine Liturgy was conducted by His Beatitude Theodoros II,
Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa.
Accompanied by His Eminence the Metropolitan of
Pilousion and the clergy of the Patriarchate, after the end of the
Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude performed the Greater Blessing of
Waters. The Patriarch then blessed the faithful and wished that the
blessed waters would grant them illumination so that Christ's peace
would reign in their hearts.
Present at the Divine Liturgy and at the Greater
Blessing of Waters were the representatives of the Greek Consulate
and the Hellenic Community, the Chairmen and Members of Hellenic
Sociaties and Associations of Alexandria, many local residents and
pilgrims from Greece.
Following the Greater Blessing of Waters, His
Beatitude received the first courtesy visit of the Governor of the
city of Alexandria General Mohamed Mahgoub (Senior Local Official)
in the Great Hall of the Monastery of St Savvas. Mr Mahgoub was
accompanied by several important officials of the city, among whom
were the Assistant Commissioner, the Security Commissioner, the
General Dean of the University of Alexandria and others.
In his address to the Governor His Beatitude
referred, amongst other things, to the peaceful co-existence of
Christians and Muslims in Egypt and asked Mr Mahgoub to pass on his
grateful thanks for the assistance and protection given by the
Egyptian Government to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria
and All Africa, to the President of the Egyptian Government, Mr
Hosny Moubarak. His Beatitude said that wherever he goes, he
mentions this love and co-operation which exists between the
Patriarchate, the Governor and the Egyptian people and mentioned
also that during his recent visit to Greece and especially to Crete
he invited the Greeks to regularly visit Alexandria. The
Patriarch's words to the Governor that "Alexander the Great built
Alexandria and you made it beautiful" were especially well-received
and brought a great round of applause. That one sentence by the
Primate of the Alexandrian Throne gave the dimensions of the radical
changes made in Alexandria during Mr Mahgoub's tenure. His Beatitude
finally told Mr Mahgoub, "You are with us, you protect us and your
help us; whatever we can do to be of use to you and to assist you,
we will gratefully do so".
Mr Mahgoub thanked His Beatitude for the
reception and the hopsitality, referred to the relations between
Hellenes and Egyptians and to the lengthy friendship which binds
them, and said: "We are friends, we have invited all Egyptians and
Greeks to return to Alexandria and we made a start by bringing back
Alexander the Great", meaning the statue donated by Greece and which
through his own efforts was placed in the central square of
Alexandria. He also referred to the honour given by Greece to Mrs
Susana Moubarak. He also mentioned the Olympic Games saying: " We
were certain that, as the Games were being held in Greece we would
get a medal, and in the end we got five". He thanked His Beatitude
for his co-operation and wished him many years. A discussion between
them on various issues followed. The interpretation between the
Alexandrian Primate and the Governor was done by Mr Michael
Aslanides.
Afterwards, accompanied by the clergy of the
Patriarchate and of the city, His Beatitude went to the Hellenic
Naval Club where he performed the service of the Blessing of the
Waters for the first time. Hoards of people had crowded onto the
balcony of the Club and, totally moved, watched the whole ceremony
which took place in a specially transformed area on the beach of the
Hellenic Naval Club of Alexandria on a dais bearing palm branches
and hundreds of Greek flags. The waters of the Mediterranean were
thus blessed for the first time by the Patriarch of Alexandria, who
before dipping the Cross into the waters, freed four white does, the
number of the Evangelists, and a symbol of peace. To Mario Makris
who dived off a blue and white sail-boat and caught the Cross, His
Beatitude gave a gold ornamental Cross, saying: "You are the first
Alexandrian to dive for the Cross on the day of Epiphany in
Alexandria".
Following this, all present went to the Naval
Club building where the President, Mr Edmond Kasimatis, thanked His
Beatitude for the moving moments he shared with them through the
ceremony. He mentioned Epiphany day and Greek traditions. He then
gave Mario Makris a piece of gold jewellery depicting the All Holy
Virgin as a reminder of the day.
His Beatitude then thanked all for their presence
and for the assistance they give the Patriarchate; he thanked Mr
Kasimatis who accepted the proposal and assisted in its realization
and then referred to the missions and the struggles faced by the
missionaries. He wished all a good enlightenment.
Present at all the ceremonies were the
representative of the Greek Consulate, Mr George Karakitsos, the
representative of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria Mr John
Mallis the second Deputy Chairman, the President of the Arab-speaking
Orthodox Community Mr Gabriel Nahas, all the Chairmen of the
Hellenic Societies and Associations, many local residents, as well
as pilgrims and travellers from Greece.
The Naval Club then hosted a lunch for the
Patriarch and his entourage. During the lunch His Beatitude gave the
Cross which for the first time had blessed the waters of the
Mediterranean from Egypt to the Hellenic Naval Club of Alexandria.
VISIT OF THE MELCHITE PATRIARCH
The Patriarchate of Alexandria honoured the St John the Forerunner
on 07 January 2005, with a Divine Liturgy attended by His
Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All
Africa.
After the Divine Liturgy His Beatitude wished all many years and
prayed that St John the Forerunner of Christ would always be with
them.
At noon, His Beatitude received the visit of Patriarch Gregorios of
the Melchites who is undertaking his annual pastoral visit to
Egypt.
Following his welcome by the clergy of the Patriarchate and after
venerating at the Holy Church of St Savvas the Melchite Patriarch
and his entourage went to the Patriarchal office where they were
welcomed by the Alexandrian Primate. The two Patriarchs mutually
informed each other regarding the work of their respective
Churches and had significant talks regarding the dialogue between
the Churches of the Middle East. They also had significant
discussions regarding the differences between the two Churches.
The Primate of the Alexandrian Throne then hosted an official
lunch in the Patriarchal Refectory for the Melchite Patriarch and
his entourage which was made up of Metropolitan of Joseph of Egypt
who is of Greek descent, and of the Melchite clergy who serve in
Alexandria. At lunch the discussion regarding the differences
between the two Churches continued, in an atmosphere of love and
mutual respect.
On his departure from the Patriarchal Monastery of St Savva the
Melchite Patriarch thanked His Beatitude for the welcome.
Earlier on Archimandrite Markos Theodosi, the interpreter for His
Beatitude, conveyed the wishes of the Alexandrian Primate to the
representative of the Coptic Patriarch, Shenouda, because the
Copts celebrate Christmas on this day.
On Sunday 9th January 2005 His Beatitude Theodoros II
Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa went to Port Said where he
conducted the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the
Transfiguration.
Following the Diving Liturgy enthroned the new
Metropolitan of Pilousion, His Eminence Panteleimon from Ghana.
During his address to the flock od the Holy Metropolis
of Pilousion mentioned the 20-year missionary effort of their new
Metropolitan in countries of Africa and wished His Eminence strength in
his new service.
His Eminence then thanked the Alexandrian Primate for
his love and assured him that he will do his best for the new Metropolis
entrusted to him.
Present at the Divine Liturgy and the enthronement
ceremony were, the Chairmen of the Hellenic and Arab Orthodox Communities
of the Metropolis of Pilousion, local authorities and many pilgrims from
Cairo, Alexandria and Damieta.
At noon, the Hellenic Community of Port Said hosted a
lunch in a well-known restaurant in the city in honour of the Patriarch.
THE PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA IN KENYA
On the 14th January 2005, His Beatitude Theodoros
II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa arrived in Kenya
from Alexandria, on his way to Cameroon where he will enthrone the new
Metropolitan.
At "KENYATA" Airport His Beatitude was welcomed by
the Metropolitan of Kenya His Eminence Makarios and the Metropolitan
of Irenoupolis His Eminence Dimitrios, the Charge d' Affaires of the
Embassies of Greece, Cyprus and Egypt, African and other clergy.
On 15th January, the Patriarch, accompanied by His
Eminence Makarios of Kenya, visited the Missionary centre in Rirouta
on the outskirts of Nairobi, where His Beatitude was enthusiastically
received at the Chapel of the Patriarchal School "Makarios III", by
the seminarians, the catechists, the lectureres and the colleagues of
the missionaries of the Nairobi and Kiambou areas. At the Chapel, the
seminarians sang the Doxology and the Patriarch's feme in Greek and
the "It is truly meet..." in Swahili.
His Eminence warmly welcomed the Alexandrian
Primate to the School, stressing the significance of this visit to the
School by the Patriarch four months after his election to the Throne
of St Mark, and then referred to the programme of the School and asked
for the prayers, assistance and support for the Patriarch.
His Beatitude then thanked the Metropolitan of
Kenya, referred to the history of the Patriarchate of Alexandria as
well as to his own personal course up until his election to the Throne
of St Mark, indicated to the seminarians to pray and to study. He then
told them that he is their father, their friend, their brother.
Afterwards, while the choir sand Church hymns the seminarians, one by
one, received the Patriarch's blessing.
His Beatitude was then taken on a conducted tour of
the buildings of the Patriarchal School, the Teaching College, the
Computer and Sewing Schools and the Nursery School. His Beatitude then
inspected the extensions of the Patriarchal and other Schools. In
every instance His Beatitude spoke words of paternal love. At the
schools, the young pupils danced and sang traditional African dances
and songs.
The Kenyan Metropolitan later hosted a reception in
honour of His Beatitude in the residence of the Holy Metropolis.
That night, His Beatitude, accompanied by
Archimandrite Markos Theodosi departed for Yiaounde, the capital of
Cameroon, in order to perform the enthronement of the new Metropolitan.
THE PATRIARCH IN DOUALA - CAMEROON
In the early hours of Sunday 16th January 2005, His
Beatitude Theodoros II Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa,
accompanied by Metropolitan Gregorios of Cameroon and the clergy of the Holy
Metropolis departed by car for the city of Douala.
At the entrance to the city His Beatitude was welcomed by
the Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Douala r Christos Karavidas, the
members of the Executive Commitee and many Greeks. Following an order from
the Governor of Douala a special guard led the car cavalcade to the Holy
Church of Ss Constantine and Helen in the grounds of the Hellenic Community
where crowds of Orthodox faithful welcomed the Alexandrian Primate.
After a short while the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy began
and His Beatitude was accompanied by the Metropolitan of Cameroon and the
clergy of the Holy Metropolis. After the Divine Liturgy His Beatitude
addressed words of greeting to the members of the Hellenic Community and to
the Cameroonian Orthodox faithful who were all deeply moved and among other
things told them that he regards them all as his family and that was the
reason he was not reading the text of his speech.
The Parish Priest of the Church, Fr Panayiotis
Soupourtzis thanked His Beatitude for the honour of his visit and stressed
the self-sacrifice of the Alexandrian Primate during his missionary service
in Cameroon. The speeches were also translated into French in order to be
understood by the multiethnic flock who were present at the Divine Liturgy.
After the Divine Liturgy and in the grounds of the Church,
the Cameroonian Orthodox Christians danced and sang traditional African
songs.
At noon, the Hellenic Community of Douala hosted a lunch
in honour of His Beatitude and that evening the Alexandrian Primate attended
a dinner hosted in his honour by the Honorary Consul of Greece Mr M Cambanis.
THE PATRIARCH IN THE CAMEROON
His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of
Alexandria and All Africa has been in the Cameroon since Saturday 15th
January 2005, undertaking his first pastoral visit.
His Beatitude arrived at the "NSIMALEN" international
airport in Yiaounde on Saturday night accompanied by his interpreter
Archimandrite Markos Theodosi.
The Alexandrian Primate was met at the airport by His
Eminence Gregorios Metropolitan of Cameroon together with clergy from the
Metropolis, the Ambassador of Egypt in the Cameroon Mr Abdeahdinh Mohamed,
the Charge d' Affaires of Greece Mrs Smaragda Yianniou together with
Diplomatic and Administrative staff of the Greek Embassy, the Director of
Protocol of the Republic pf Cameroon Mr Ebana, the Honorary Consul of Cyprus
Mr Konstantinos Antoniades, the Chairman of the Hellenic Community of
Yiaounde Mr Kleopas Loizides, the Chairman of the Cameroonian Orthodox
Christians Mr Mess, the Great Lord of the Churches of the Patriarchate of
Alexandria Mr George Kyriakides and many faithful who gave the Alexandrian
Primate a warm welcome.
The President of the Republic of the Cameroon Mr Paoul
Biya, immediately onbeing notified of the intended visit to the Cameroon by
the Alexandrian Patriarch, ordered that he be given the honours of a Head of
State, because his elevation to the Patriarchal Throne of St Mark, honours
the Cameroon whose Prelate he was for six years, developing in that time
significant and multifaceted missionary and social activities,
significantly helping suffering Cameroonians. His Excellency the President
placed state vehicles for use by His Beatitude as his personal guest as well
as a special guard, in order that His Beatitude can move about quickly and
safely during his stay in the Cameroon. Also, all expenses of the stay of
the Patriarch and his entourage in Cameroon have been undertaken by the
Republic of the Cameroon. His Beatitude thanked the President of the
Republic of the Cameroon through the Director of Protocol for the honour
shown to him.
His Beatitude and his entourage then left the airport for
the hotel where they were to be staying.
CONTINUATION OF THE PATRIARCH'S PASTORAL VISIT
TO CAMEROON
On Thursday 20th January 2005, His Beatitude Theodoros
II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, attended a dinner
hosted in his honour by the Chairman of Cameroonian Orthodox Christians,
Mr Messy, at his home.
His Beatitude thanked everyone for the honour showed to
him by all Cameroonians and stressed the necessity for unity among
Orthodox Christians in order that Orthodox witness be a witness for Christ.
The next day, Friday 21st January 2005, the Alexandrian
Primate visited the Parish of Ss Constantine and Helen in the Metet area
of Yaounde where he was welcomed by the clergy of the Metropolis and the
faithful people of the parish.
In the presence of the local community and military
officials a doxology was held, at the end of which, in his address, His
Beatitude greeted the faithful and mentioned the great efforts made for
the building of this church, as well as for the salvific action of Ss
Constantine and Helen through which His Beatitude was saved following a
car accident. He then placed the icon of the saints on the holy icon stand
of the church.
Afterwards, His Beatitude visited the newly built
Parish Centre and Clinic where he blessed the common agape meal of the
parish.
On the afternoon of the same day, His Beatitude met
with the benevolent society of Orthodox Ladies in a hall at the Hilton
Hotel. The Primate of the Alexandrian Throne spoke of the necessity for
efficiently using the ladies in philanthropic work, and
attentively listened to their problems. He later hosted a reception in
honour of these ladies.
That night, His Beatitude and his entourage attended a
show by the local choir and then attended a dinner hosted in his honour by
the Grand Lord of the Churches, Mr George Kyriakides.
On Saturday 22nd January 2005 the Patriarch met with
the Orthodox Youth of Cameroon at a function organised by the youth in his
honour at the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos. The young
people warmly welcomed His Beatitude. The church choir sang hymns and
impromptu songs in honour of the Primate of the Alexandrian Throne.
Greatly moved, His Beatitude addressed and greeted all those present. A
reception followed in the grounds of the building.
That night, His Beatitude and his entourage attended a
dinner hosted in his honour at the home of Commander Rene Mecca, a
spiritual child of His Beatitude.
ENTHRONEMENT OF THE NEW METROPOLITAN OF
CAMEROON
On Sunday 23rd January 2005, His Beatitude
officiated at, and then conducted, the Divine Liturgy accompanied by His
Eminence Gregory Metropolitan of Cameroon, and the clergy of the Holy
Metropolis at the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in
Yaounde. At the end of the Divine Liturgy he enthroned the new
Metropolitan of Cameroon, His Eminence Gregory. His Beatitude addressed
the new Metropolitan and wished him strength in his new service. The new
Metropolitan was addressed by Mr Kleopas Loizides on behalf of the
Hellenic Community of Yaounde. In his enthronement address the new
Metropolitan thanked His Beatitude and all those who had played a defining
role in his service as a priest and laid out the framework within which he
would work during his service in the missionary Archdiocese of Cameroon.
The entire ceremony of the enthronement was broadcast
by the state television. Present both at the ceremony of the enthronement
and at the reception which followed in the grounds of the Hellenic
Community and the Archbishopric, were the Ambassador of Greece Mr
Apostolos Pavlos Haralambous, the Ambassador of Egypt Mr Abdelhamid
Suleiman, Commander in Chief Mr Rene Meca, the Roman Catholic Nuncio Mgr
Antonio Elisser, the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Cameroon Mr Esso
representing his Excellency the President of the Republic Mr Paul Bica,
diplomats from the countries of the European Union, the Ambassador of the
Central African Republic which belongs to the Archdiocese of Cameroon, as
well as the Ambassadors of Chad and Gabon, both of which countries also
fall under the jurisdiction of the Holy Archdiocese of Cameroon, the
Honorary Consul of Cyprus Mr Konstantinos Antoniades, the Honorary Consul of
Greece in Chad Mr I Poulopoulos, the Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Douala
Mr Christos Karavidas, many Hellenes and crowds of Orthodox Cameroonians.
That night His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece Mr
Apostolos Pavlos Haralambous hosted a dinner in honour of His Beatitude at
the Hilton Hotel.
CONTINUATION OF THE PATRIARCH'S PASTORAL VISIT
TO CAMEROON
The next day, Monday 24th January 2005, in the presence
of His Beatitude, a meeting of the Priests was held in the Holy Church of
the Annunciation. His Beatitude, addressing the clergy, spoke of the
responsibility of priestly service and discussed his plans for the
creation of a Higher Theological School in Alexandria. A discussion
followed during which the various problems of the Priests were aired.
At noon, His Beatitude attended a lunch which was
hosted in his honour by the Priests of the Archdiocese of Cameroon. That
evening he attended a short reception hosted in his honour by the Honorary
Consul of Cyprus Mr Konstantinos Antoniades.
On Tuesday 25th January 2005, His Beatitude attended
the Divine Liturgy which was conducted by the new Metropolitan, Gregory of
Cameroon, who was celebrating his name day that day, at the Church of the
Annunciation of the Theotokos. At the end of the service His Beatitude
addressed the Metropolitan and wished him strength, expressing his trust
in the new hierarch for the continued progress of the Holy Archdiocese.
Updated 29/01/05
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