The Feast of the most ancient Monastery of St George in Old Cairo was celebrated again this year, officiated by His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa.
The Alexandrian Primate officiated at the religious services together with the Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo, His Grace Nikodemos, Bishop of Nitria, Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo, and the Patriarchal Vicar of the Arabic-speaking Orthodox Community His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Hermopolis. Present also were the Greek Ambassador Mr John Alexis Zepos, his Cypriot counterpart Mr Kostas Leontiou, the Consul General of Greece in Cairo Mr Gregory Basilokonstantakis, the Deputy Chairman, General Secretary and Treasurer of the Hellenic Community of Cairo, Messrs Nicholas Badis, Nicholas Politis and Antonios Diamantidis respectively, the Chairman of the Arab Orthodox Community Mr Robert Hosni, the Academic from Egypt, recently awarded the Nobel Prize Mr. Zerefos, the Vice Rector of the University of Athens Mr D. Asimakopoulos, the Chairman of the Missionary Society of Thessaloniki Mr Vaios Prantzos, the former Honorary Consul of Greece in Djibouti Mr Komninakis, representatives of societies and many faithful. At Vespers the homily was given by His Eminence Nicholas Metropolitan of Hermopolis.
At the Festal Divine Liturgy the Primate of the Orthodox Church in Africa, spoke of a “unique day” as the Great Martyr George of our Church lived in and sanctifies the Greek Orthodox Monastery in Old Cairo, and was distinguished by his great love for Jesus Christ.
Following the service and just before the procession of the icon of St George, the Patriarch awarded the Chairman of the Missionary Society of Thessaloniki, Mr. Prantzos, the Office of Archon Orphanotrophos, thanking
him for his enormous contribution to the missionary efforts of the Church of St Mark.
During the Divine Liturgy, the hymns were sung by members of the Byzantine Music Group “IDYMELON” from Thessaloniki.
