November 2005
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FESTAL CELEBRATION AT THE HOLY CHURCH OF THE UNMERCENARIES IN
ABOUKIR
On Tuesday, 1st November 2005, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and
Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa officiated at the Church of
the Unmercenaries in Aboukir which was celebrating its Feast Day.
Present at the Divine Liturgy were the Consul General of Greece in
Alexandria Mr. Theoharis Lalakos, Mr. Pericles Tsambaris and his
wife, who take care of the Holy Church and who then hosted a lunch
in honour of His Beatitude at their well-known restaurant “Zephyrion”.
On the next day, Wednesday, 2nd November 2005, His Beatitude
received in his office at the Patriarchal Monastery of St Savvas the
Sanctified, the Consul General of Greece in Alexandria together with
his family. He then received Gregory, the Bishop of the
Armenian-Catholics who has his seat in Cairo and who was accompanied
by the Chairman of the Armenian Community in Cairo.
THE FEAST OF RAMADAN
On Thursday, 3rd November 2005, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and
Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, accompanied by the
Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria Archimandrite Gabriel Raftopoulos
and the Legal Adviser of the Patriarchate to the Alexandrian Library
where he wished the Governor of Alexandria and the Authorities on
the occasion of the Feast of Ramadan.
The Governor, General Mohamed Mahgoup, received His Beatitude with
particular enthusiasm and cordiality. They had a brief discussion,
during which His Beatitude thanked the Governor for the protection
and the esteem which is given to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of
Alexandria and All Africa by the Egyptian Government and asked him
to pass on his wished to for the Feast to the President of the Arab
Republic of Egypt Mr. Hosni Mubarak, as well as his gratitude for
all that the Government does for the Patriarchate.
From the Patriarchal Press Office,
Alexandria, 3rd November 2005
FEAST DAY OF ST PETROS PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA
On Thursday, 24th November 2005, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope
and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, conducted Matins and the
Divine Liturgy at the Holy Patriarchal Church of St Savvas in
Alexandria.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy His Beatitude performed the
Trisagion service in memory of his predecessor Patriarch Petros who
used to celebrate his Name Day on this day.
In the evening of the same day His Beatitude went to the Greek
Consulate of Alexandria where the Church of St Catherine is situated
and where he conducted Great Festal Vespers for the Feast Day of the
Saint.
THE PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA AT THE FUNERAL SERVICE OF THE HONORARY
PRESIDENT OF THE ONASSIS FOUNDATION, STYLIANOS PAPADIMITRIOU
At dawn on Friday, 25th November 2005, His Beatitude Theodoros II,
Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, departed from the
Alexandrian Airport accompanied by Archimandrite Gennadios
Stantzios, for Athens in order to conduct the funeral service of the
Honorary President of the Alexander S. Onassis Benefit Foundation,
Mr Stylianos Papadimitriou.
His Beatitude was seen off at the airport in Alexandria by
Archimandrite Savvas Heimonettos, Patriarchal Supervisor.
At 12.30 in the afternoon at the Holy Church of St Fotini in nea
Smyrni, the funeral service of the late Stylianos Papadimitriou was
conducted, officiated over by His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and
Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, and concelebrated by His
Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece,
Archbishop Anastasios of Albania together with the Metropolitans of
Nea Smyrni Symeon, the Elder Dionysios of Leontopolis and the Elder
Petrol of Aksum.
At the end of the service His Beatitude, in his funeral homily
praised the multitalented figure and morals of the late Stylianos
Papadimitriou, spoke briefly about the benefactory intervention in
the renovations of the Holy Church of the Annunciation in Alexandria
by the Onassis Foundation and of the endless support, valuable
co-operation and contribution of the present President of the
Foundation, Mr Antonios Papadimitriou, son of the deceased and his
friend for many years, to the progress of the work of the
Patriarchate of Alexandria.
Present at the funeral were His Excellency the Minister of Foreign
Affairs Mr Petrol Molyviatis, the former Speaker of Parliament Mr
Apostolos Kaklamanis, Deputy Ministers, Parliamentarians and other
governmental officials, representatives of the parties, the Deputy
President of SAE Mr Stephanos Tamvakis, the Chairman of Hellenes
from Egypt Mr Philip Kossenas, the Chairman of the Hellenic
Community of Alexandria Mr Haralambos Katsimbris and many others.
In the early hours of Sunday 27th November 2005, the Primate of the
Alexandrian Church returned to his seat in Alexandria via Cairo, due
to the difficult weather conditions present at the Alexandrian
Airport.
THE PATRIARCH’S BIRTHDAY
On the morning of Sunday 27th November 2005, His Beatitude Theodoros
II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, conducted the
Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church of St Savvas in Alexandria,
and then hosted a reception in the Great Hall of the Monastery for
the Hellenic Community on the occasion of his birthday. Many
citizens, Societies, the Executive Committee of the Lyceum of Greek
Women of Alexandria, Consular Officials and representatives of the
Hellenic Community and SAE were present to wish His Beatitude a
Happy Birthday. His Beatitude thanked everyone and returned the
wishes that everyone’s years be many and blessed.
From the Patriarchal Press Office
Alexandria 28th November 2005 PATRIARCHAL ACTIVITY
On Friday, 4th November 2005, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and
Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, received in his office the
Professor of the Theological Faculty of the University of Athens
Archimandrite Nicholas Ioannides, with whom he held talks regarding
the prospective of the creation of a Patriarchal School in
Alexandria where lessons of General Theology, Agriculture and First
Aid will be taught. The meeting was preceeded by contacts between Fr
Nicholas and the Greek Ambassador in Cairo, Mr. Panayiotis
Vlasopoulos, following an agreement by His Beatitude.
At noon on the same day the Alexandrian Primate left for Cairo where
he will remain until Sunday, 6th November 2005, when he will depart
for Constantinople, accompanied by Archimandrite Savvas Heimonettos,
in order to participate in the Inter-Faith Meeting which is being
organized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
From the Patriarchal Press Office,
Alexandria, 5th November 2005
THE PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA AT THE INTER-FAITH MEETING IN
CONSTANTINOPLE
On Monday, 7th November 2005, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and
Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, departed from Cairo,
accompanied by Archimandrite Savvas Heimonettos, for Constantinople
in order to participate in the 2nd Inter-Faith Meeting which is
being organized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
His Beatitude, who arrived in Constantinople in the early hours, was
welcomed at the “Kemal Ataturk” International Airport by His
EminenceTheoklitos of Ikonium and Archdeacon Stephen. At the same
time, His Beatitude Elias of Georgia arrived, as did the Great …… of
Azherbaijan, with whom the Alexandrian Primate held lengthy
discussions.
At noon on the same day, His Beatitude, accompanied by Archimandrite
Savvas Heimonettos, went to the Phanar, where together with the
other Leaders of various religions, they met with His All Holiness
Bartholomaios, the Ecumenical Patriarch. Following the welcome and
the short reception in the Hall of the Throne, a lunch was held in
the Patriarchal Refectory. Following the lunch, His Beatitude had
the opportunity of meeting and discussing with significant persons
of the various religions among who was the Great S….. of
Azherbaijan, the Chief Rabbi of America and others.
On the evening of the same day and before the start of the
conference, His Beatitude met with the Patriarch of Georgia and a
telephonic conversation with the newly elected- President of
Azherbaijan followed. His Beatitude wished him great strength and
success in his tasks.
Following the opening of the Conference by His Eminence Emmanuel of
France, the messages and greetings of the delegates were given.
During his speech His Beatitude emphasized the peaceful co-existence
of Christians and Muslims in Egypt and the protection which the
Patriarchate of Alexandria receives in Muslim Egypt, thereby
realizing the co-existence of religions.
A dinner hosted by the Ecumenical Patriarchate for all the delegates
followed. During the dinner His Beatitude had brief discussions with
Cardinal Kaspar, Chairman of the Pontifical Council. The Alexandrian
Primate also met briefly with the Professor of the Theological
Faculty Mr. Vlasis Feidas with whom he discussed the development of
the Patriarchal Archive.
On the next day, Tuesday 8th November 2005, His Beatitude officiated
at the Holy Church of the Archangels in Balata. Following the Divine
Liturgy which was conducted by Archimandrite Savvas Heimonettos, the
Alexandrian Primate, addressing the congregation, thanked His All
Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch for his love and His Eminence
Dionysios of Sinas for the welcome to and the hospitality in his
district, spoke of Alexandria and the difficult work of the missions
on the African continent. Refreshments were served in the reception
hall of the Church.
His Beatitude then went to the Ecumenical Patriarchate where he met
His Eminence Dimitrios of Sebaste and later attended a lunch offered
by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomaios and which was also
attended by Mrs Angeliki Feidas, wife of Professor Valsis Feidas,
who happened to be celebrating her name day.
His Beatitude then met with the one responsible for the meeting, His
Eminence Emmanuel of France.
From the Patriarchal Press Office,
Alexandria, 8th November 2005. SECOND AND THIRD DAY OF THE INTER-FAITH MEETING IN CONSTANTINOPLE
On Tuesday, 8th November 2005, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and
Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, held discussions with the
Organizer of the Conference, Metropolitan Emmanuel of France on the
prospective of holding relative conferences in Alexandria.
Later, His Beatitude met and held discussions with the Armenian
Patriarch Mesrop and that night attended a dinner hosted on board a
ship by the Mayor of Constantinople in honour of the delegates.
The following day, Wednesday, 9th November 2005, the Alexandrian
Primate received in his office at the hotel where he was staying,
the Consul General of Egypt in Constantinople. He thanked him for
the protection offered by the Egyptian Government to the
Patriarchate of Alexandria and gave him a copy of his speech from
the conference.
That night, he attended the reception hosted by the Ecumenical
Patriarch in honour of his guests and then, accompanied by the
Egyptian Consul General, departed for the Airport en route to Cairo.
PATRIARCHAL ACTIVITY
On Friday, 11th November 2005, Feast Day of the Holy Great Martyr
Minas the Wonderworker, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and
Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, following the Divine Liturgy
conducted by Hieromonk Alexios Marakis at the Patriarchal Church of
St Savvas in Alexandria, drove to the desert and prayed at the ruins
of the Basilica of St Minas, as usual.
The next day, Saturday, 12th November 2005, Feast Day of St John the
Almsgiver, Patriarch of Alexandria, His Beatitude conducted the
Divine Liturgy following which a reception was held in the Great
Hall of the Patriarchal Monastery of St Savvas.
At noon on the same day, he received in the Patriarchal Office,
those responsible for the Linguistic Conference taking place in
Alexandria, the subject of which is Languages of the Mediterranean,
with who he discussed the possibility of studying the languages of
Africa.
On Sunday 13th November 2005, the Alexandrian Primate officiated
during the Divine Liturgy and presented the sermon, referring to the
Great figure of St John the Chrysostom. He then conducted the
memorials of Eleni Florentis and Christina Matthaiou, owner of the
historic restaurant “ELITE”.
He then received in his office the Iconographer Mr. Constantinos
Xenopoulos with whom he discussed the progress of the iconography of
the Patriarchal Church of St Savvas and the construction of the
mosaics at the New Patriarchal palace.
He then went on to the Club of the Hellenic Community in Alexandria
where he attended a lunch hosted by the family of the late Eleni
Florentis. He then went immediately to the Greek Cemetery where he
conducted the funeral of Constantinos Astor.
From the Patriarchal Press Office,
Alexandria, 13th November 2005
THE PATRIARCH VISITS THE ICONOGRAPHY EXHIBITION AND THE ALEXANDRIAN
LIBRARY
On the evening of Tuesday, 15th November 2005, His Beatitude
Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa,
accompanied by Hieromonk Alexios Marakis, Hierodeacon Kyrillos and
the Iconographer Constantinos Xenopoulos, went to the “Alexandria
Centre” where he inaugurated the exhibition of the well-known
Russian iconographer Mr. Vladimir Pavlov. Present at the exhibition
were the Consul General of Greece in Alexandria Mr. Theoharis
Lalakos, the Consul General of Russia in Alexandria Mr. Alexander
Chvykov, the Consuls General of Israel, China and Korea and many
others. Following the cutting of the ribbon His Beatitude gave an
interview to Egyptian Television.
The following day, Wednesday 16th November 2005, the Alexandrian
Primate, accompanied by the Chief Secretary of the Patriarchates,
Archimandrite Gennadios Stantzios and the Director of his Private
Office Archimandrite Markos Theodosi, went to the Alexandrian
Library where he attended a part of the Conference which is taking
place in Alexandria, regarding the person and contribution of
Mohamed Ali. The co-ordination of the Conference was conducted by
the Consul General of Greece in Alexandria, Mr. Theoharis Lalakos
and the keynote speakers for the first day were Professor Eythymios
Souloyiannis and the businesswoman and historian Anna
Missirian-Tzouma, Director of the Imaret, the former buildings of
Mohamed Ali in Kavala which today is a hotel and belongs to the
Egyptian Government.
His Beatitude then received in the Holy Patriarchal Church of St
Savvas in Alexandria a group of pilgrims from Hegoumenitsa, whom he
welcomed and spoke to of the missionary work of the Patriarchate on
the African Continent.
At noon on the same day His Beatitude went to the Patriarchal Palace
which is under reconstruction and inspected the ongoing works.
From the Patriarchal Press Office
Alexandria, 16th November 2005
PATRIARCHAL MEETINGS
On Tuesday, 15th November 2005, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and
Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, received in his office in
the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of St Savvas the Sanctified in
Alexandria the Rector of the University of Finland. The Rector was
accompanied to the Patriarchal Office by the group of Finnish
conservators which has undertaken the maintenance and digital
recording of the manuscripts of the Patriarchal Library. During the
meeting between His Beatitude and the Rector, the continuation of
this important work was discussed as well as its extension to the
old books which are significant, have scientific and educational
interest but have unfortunately not remained untouched by time.
His Beatitude then received Mrs Anna Misirian, a businesswoman from
Kavala, who is in Alexandria for the conference which is taking
place in the Alexandrian Library regarding Mohamed Ali.
On the evening of the same day, the Alexandrian Primate received in
his Patriarchal Office Professor Euthymios Soulogiannis with whom he
held talks for quite a length of time. He then thanked him for the
publication of the new volume “MISCELLANEOUS TEXTS FROM THE
PATRIARCHATE OF ALEXANDRIA”
From the Patriarchal Press Office,
Alexandria, 15th November 2005 PATRIARCHAL ACTIVITY
On Thursday, 17th November 2005, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope
and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, received in his office
at the Patriarchal Monastery of St Savvas in Alexandria, His
Eminence George of Zimbabwe with whom he had brief discussions.
During the meeting His Eminence gave an amount of money which was
from his Holy Archdiocese to His Beatitude for the expenses of the
running of the Patriarchate. His Beatitude thanked His Eminence and
they then went to the Patriarchal palace which is under renovation
where Beatitude inspected the progress of the works.
At noon on the same day, His Beatitude went to the Hellenic Naval
Club of Alexandria, where he attended a lunch hosted by the Chief
Secretary of the Patriarchates Archimandrite Gennadios Stantzios on
the occasion of his Name Day.
On the evening of the same day, he went to the Society of Hellenic
Scientists “Ptolemy A” where he attended the talk by the
Archaeologist Mr. Harry Tzalas, entitled “Traveling in Ancient Greek
ships” during which he developed the experimental travels of the
“Kyreneia II”, the Athenian Trireme “Olympias” and the Papyrella.
The following day, Friday, 18th November 2005, the Alexandrian
Primate received in his office at the Patriarchal Monastery of St
Savvas, Mrs Minerva Kontopoulou from Thessaloniki who announced to
the Patriarch the wish of the Society “Friends of the Patriarchate
of Alexandria” to organize a Bazaar aiming at supporting through its
income, the Patriarchate on the African Continent. His Beatitude
gave his blessing to this particular task.
That same night, His Beatitude went to the Annual General Meeting of
the Hellenic Chamber of Commerce in Alexandria, accompanied by
Archimandrite Gennadios Stantzios, Chief Secretary of the
Patriarchates.
From the Patriarchal press Office,
Alexandria, 18th November 2005
ANNOUNCEMENT
His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All
Africa, is due to leave for Athens on Friday 25th November 2005 in
order to conduct the funeral of the late Mr. Stylianos
Papadimitriou, given that the “Onassis Foundation” whose Chairman
the late gentleman was, was and is a supporter and benefactor of the
difficult and multifaceted work of the Patriarchate of Alexandria
and All Africa, especially in the field of renovation of its holy
churches.
Immediately following the news of the death of Mr. Papadimitriou,
the Alexandrian Primate gave orders that messages of condolence be
sent to his family and to the “Onassis Foundation”.
HIS BEATITUDE IN ATHENS AND CRETE His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, departed early on the morning of Tuesday 27th September 2005 for Athens from the Airport in Alexandria. On Tueday evening His Beatitude attended a dinner at the home of the businessman Mr Markos Raptis. He had the opportunity to meet there with people who are active in various forms of business and to tell them about the enormous missionary work of the Patriarchate in Africa so that they may be informed and thereby contribute to this work. At noon on Wednesday 28th September, the Primate of the Church of St Mark, accompanied by his representative in Athens, His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Petros of Aksum, visited His Beatitude Christodoulos Archbishop of Athens and All Greece. The welcome given by His Beatitude Christodoulos to the Patriarch of Alexandria was very warm and the two Primates had an opportunity to discuss common issues regarding the two Churches. His Beatitude expressed the gratitude of the Alexandrian Church to the Apostolic Church of Greece for its support of and contirbution to the missionary work of the Patriarchate. At night on the same day the Association of Hellenes from Egypt hosted a reception in honour of the Alexandrian Primate. The Chairman of the Association Mr Philip Kossenas, welcomed His Beatitude with words of love and respect. The long acquaintane and friendship between the Chairman and His Beatitude comes from the time when the late Patriarch Parthenios had appointed the present Patriarch as his representative in the Patriarchal Office in Athens. The Patriarch met many beloved people whom he had known and worked with many years previously. Present at this reception for His Beatitude were the Chairmen of Associations from all the countries of Africa, the Deputy President of S.A.E. Mr Stephanos Tamvakis, the Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria Mr Haralambos Katsimbris, the Elder Metropolitans Dionysios of Leontopolis and Petros of Aksum, Mr Antonios Livanis, Mr Ioannidis, the representative of the Onassis Foundation. On that night, the Alexandrian Primate also met with many University Professors and many other personalities from Egypt who honour the sciences and letters. His Beatitude then went on to the adjacent halls of the Association where he met with the graduates of the Averof School of Alexandria. He wished them all and spoke to them of the future work of the Patriarchate of Alexandria. In his greeting the Patriarch referred to his diaconate and service under Patriarchs Nicholas, Parthenios and Petros, expressed his great joy at being among people whom he loves and by whom he is loved, whom he honours and who honoured him during the seven years in which he represented the Patriarchate in Athens. His Beatitude awarded the Cross of the Apostle Mark of the Patriarchate of Alexandria to the Chairman of the Association of Hellenes from Egypt Mr Philp Kossenas and gave him also an icon of St Athanasios. The Chairman gave His Beatitude a most beautiful Chalice and Paten. The Patriarch also met with many Metropolitans of the Throne in his Patriarchal Office in Athens, among whom were His Eminence Metropolitan Gregorios of Cameroon, Ambassadors from many countries in which Greek diplomats serve and he exchanged useful views and thoughts with them regarding issues of the Church and the Hellenes. On Friday 30th September the Primate of the Alexandrian Church went to Heraklion in Crete, where he conducted the marriage service of his nephew Michael Mahlas. During his journey from Athens to Crete the Patriarch was accompanied by His Eminence the Elder Metropolitan Petros of Aksum and Metropolitan Alexandros of Nigeria, while also present at the wedding at the Church were His Eminence Chrysostomos of Zakynthos, His Eminence Andreas of Arkalochorion and His Eminence Eygenios of Ierapytni and Siteia. In Crete, His Beatitude met with the members of the Orthodox Society "the Bridge of Love" which is active throughout Crete and exchanged with tme views on Missionary work.
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