PATRIARCHAL ATTENDANCES

·            On January 1 it is the custom for His Beatitude the Patriarch to conduct the Doxology at the Holy Church of the Annunciation. This is followed by a reception in the hall of the Throne

·            On January 18, due to the Feast of our Holy Fathers Athanasios and Cyril, Patriarchs of Alexandria, the Patriarch officiates at the All-Venerable Patriarchal Church of St Savvas the Hallowed

·            On January 30, Feast of the Three Hierarchs and Feast of Education, the Patriarch officiates at the All-Venerable Patriarchal Cathedral of St Savvas the Hallowed

·            During the entire period of Great Lent the Patriarch officiates at the All-Venerable Patriarchal Cathedral Church of St Savvas the Hallowed and at the other Churches of the Archdiocese during the services of the Pre-sanctified Gifts and the Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos

·            It is the custom for His Beatitude the Patriarch celebrates the 1^st Sunday of Great Lent (Sunday of Orthodoxy) at the Holy Church of the Annunciation

·            On the 3^rd Sunday of Great Lent (Veneration of the Cross) His Beatitude the Patriarch goes to Cairo and presides over the Divine Liturgy in the Patriarchal Cathedral of St Nicholas

·            On March 25, Feast and celebration of the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria, His Beatitude the Patriarch officiates in the said Church and then presides over the Doxology for the National Day

·            On the 5^th Sunday of Great Lent His Beatitude celebrates in the Holy Church of the Archangels in the Arabic-speaking Greek Orthodox Community of Cairo

·            During the entire Week of the Divine Passion of the Lord, His Beatitude the Patriarch officiates all the Holy Rites at the All-Venerable Patriarchal Cathedral Church of St Savvas the Hallowed an din other Churches of the Archdiocese; on the evening of Holy Saturday he officiates in the Service of the Resurrection in the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos

·            His Beatitude the Patriarch presides of the Service of 2^nd Resurrection in the at the All-Venerable Patriarchal Cathedral Church of St Savvas the Hallowed

·            On St Thomas Sunday His Beatitude the Patriarch celebrates in the Holy Church of the Dormition in the Arabic-speaking Greek Orthodox Community of Alexandria

·            On April 23, Feast of the Great Martyr George the Victorious, His Beatitude the Patriarch goes to Cairo and officiates at the Celebrations in the Church of the same name

·            On April 25, Feast of the Holy Glorious Apostle and Evangelist Mark, the celebration of the Apostolic Throne of Alexandria, it is customary for His Beatitude the Patriarch to preside over the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of St Savvas the Hallowed or in Cairo at the Holy Church of St Nicholas

·            On May 21, Feast of Ss Constantine and Helen, celebration of the Holy Church of the same name in Cairo, His Beatitude the Patriarch comes to Cairo for the purpose of presiding over the celebrations

·            On the Sunday of Pentecost His Beatitude officiates in the Patriarchal Church of St Nicholas in Cairo and reads the Vespers Prayers

·            During the entire period of the 1 – 15 August, it is usual for His Beatitude the Patriarch to preside over the Services of the Paraclesis in the All Venerable Patriarchal Cathedral of St Savvas the Hallowed; on the actual day of the Dormition of the Theotokos, he officiates in the Holy Church of the Dormition in the Arabic-speaking Greek Orthodox Community of Alexandria

·            On September 1 (Beginning of the Indiction) i.e. the New Ecclesiastical Year, it is customary for His Beatitude the Patriarch to officiate at the Divine Liturgy at the All Venerable Patriarchal Cathedral of St Savvas the Hallowed

·            On October 28 His Beatitude the Patriarch presides over the Doxology in the Cathedral of the Annunciation for the National Feast

·            On November 8 His Beatitude officiates at the Holy Church of the Archangels in the Arabic-speaking Greek Orthodox Community of Cairo

·            On November 24, Feast Day of our Holy Father Petros of Alexandria, His Beatitude the Patriarch, commemorating his august Name Day, celebrates in the Patriarchal Cathedral. After the Divine Liturgy he receives the greetings of the faithful and the dignitaries in the hall of the Throne

·            On December 5, Feast Day of our Venerable and God-bearing Father Savvas the Hallowed, celebration of the Venerable Patriarchal Cathedral in Alexandria, the customary Patriarchal Synodal Liturgy is celebrated

·            On December 6, Feast Day of our Holy Father Nicholas Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, celebration of the Patriarchal Cathedral of St Nicholas in Cairo, His Beatitude the Patriarch comes to Cairo for the purpose of presiding over Great Vespers and the Divine Liturgy in the said Church

·            During the Feasts of the Nativity it is customary for the Patriach to be in Cairo

·            On December 31, His Beatitude the Patriarch the blesses the “Vasilopitta”  which he then personally distributes to those coming to receive his blessing for the New Year. This all takes place in the Great Hall of the Throne, in a special service for the Beginning of the New Year, in the presence of the dignitaries of the Hellenic Community, as well as of the Foreign dignitaries and of the Patriarchal Court. During the Service, in his address, His Beatitude the Patriarch analyzes the success of the past year which have been for the benefit of the Church and refers to those of the future with the help of the Most High

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Updated 17/01/04