GREETING BY HIS BEATITUDE PETROS VII POPE AND PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA AND ALL AFRICA AT THE FUNCTION OF THE NAVAL CLUB OF ALEXANDRIA FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES OF ATHENS 2004  

Alexandria 7^th June 2004)

Honourable Mr Kassimatis, President of the Hellenic Naval Club of Alexandria, Your Excellencies, Dear elite guests and all others present, Brothers and children in the Lord,

Today’s function at the Naval Club of Alexandria, for the City of Athens organization of the Olympic Games 2004, is an excellent opportunity for us to commonly express the direct and wholehearted participation of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria as well as of all fellow Hellenes throughout Africa to our brothers in metropolitan Greece. At the same time, it comprises a significant expression of the Hellenic soul and our lengthy Hellenic culture both to the hospitable land of Egypt as well as to all corners of the universe where the Hellenic spirit is active, teaches and is taught, inspires and is inspired, accomplishes great things through its love of beauty, and is expressed through education, language, philosophy and its various cultural achievements.

Consequently, as heirs of worthy ancestors, we declare our common satisfaction to the organizers of the Olympic Games, as well as to this precursory function and wish all every success. We are sure that Hellenism has the ability to once again prove its internal dynamism and to embody the universal hopes of peace, conciliation, understanding and co-operation. The children of the Church of Alexandria, united among themselves as well as with Hellenes everywhere, with close bonds of love, laudably and deservedly honour the Olympic Games and participate in the universal feast of athletics, where the spirit of civility, directness and contest will triumph. The victory song of the Olympic Hymn will glorify in the faces of the athletes the immortal Hellenic spirit during its historic progress and will worthily inspire all who will take part in the games, all who worked hard for their great success and also those who struggle daily for the progress of the world.

On this splendid day we pray in unity to God for our ancestors and our children and bestow on all our paternal prayer and our Patriarchal blessing.

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Updated 15/06/04