With great magnificence , officiated by His Beatitude Theodoros II Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Hellenic Cairo honoured on Thursday and Friday of Bright Week (according to local tradition) the memory of St George “in Old Cairo”, the “Rotonda” of the East.
The services were conducted this year in the small chapel of this historic monument of Orthodoxy, as from months ago, for the first time after 100 years, the renovation works have begun for the total restoration of the area, a donation by the Greek shipowner, Mr Athanasios Martinos.
So, in the presence of His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Ermopolis, the Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo His Grace Nikodimos of Nitria and of the Hegumen of the Holy Monastery His Grace Niphon of Babylon, the Alexandrian Primate expressed his great satisfaction on the progress of the works and thanked all those present, His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece Mr. Christodooulos Lazaris, the Honourable Consul General of Greece in Cairo Mr. Ioannis Hatzantonakis, the Deputy Chairman Mr Kimis Flevotomas and the representatives of the Hellenic Community of Cairo, the Deputy Chairman of the Arabic Speaking Community Mr. Farid Houri as well as all, Orthodox and Muslims, who came to venerate this great Saint of our faith.
“We have all come to our beloved Saint George, to honour his memory, because he is connected with the lives of each one of us”, said the Alexandrian Patriarch. And he added: “We came to praise his life and his witness, to venerate his holy relics and we know well that each year the wreath that adorns his icon is made from the flowers of the Resurrection”.
In conclusion His Beatitude gave special thanks to the Hegumen of the Monastery His Grace Niphon for the efforts he makes for the Monastery, as well as the “Arab Contractors” company which has undertaken the renovation works, praying that the works will be completed in two years so that the great festival of the inauguration of the “Rotonda” can take place.
