In the presence of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, the Leave-Taking of the Great Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos was celebrated in the city of Cairo.
The focus of the celebration was the most sacred historic church of the All-Holy Virgin within the cemetery of the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of St. George in Cairo.
In the grounds of the Holy Church is the well that according to written texts our All-Holy Virgin would draw water during her stay in the land of Egypt with our Lord and the Righteous Joseph the Betrothed when they left Bethlehem for fear of Herod.
The place is a sacred place of worship for both Christians and Muslims throughout Egypt.
On Sunday morning His Beatitude officiated at the Service of Vespers and served the Festive Divine Liturgy.
Present were the Consul of Greece in Cairo Mr. Achilleas Bikis, the Chairman of the Arabic speaking community of Daher, Cairo Mr. Salem Kasis and many Christians from Cairo.
With the appropriate reverence of the chanting of the salutations to Our Lady Theotokos in Greek and Arabic by a choir of young people, a small procession took place around the Holy Church.
His Beatitude in his homily referred to the person of our Sweet Mother Our All-Holy Virgin and urged that our reverence does not only last for the 23 days inAugust but throughout the year.
With tears he begged her to intercede with the God who loves mankind to stop the terrible pandemic that plagues the universe and as a Champion Leader to mediate for the prevalence of peace in the Mediterranean
