Today, Sunday, August 22, 2021, a day on which the Church celebrates the memory of the Martyr Saint Agathonikos, a Divine Liturgy was celebrated, officiated by His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, at the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of our Venerable and God-bearing Father Savvas the Sanctified in Alexandria, Egypt, in the presence of the Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria His Eminence Narcissus Metropolitan of Naucratis, His Grace Germanos Bishop of Tamiathus, the Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod Archimandrite Nicodemos Totkas, the Clergy of the Patriarchal Monastery and many faithful.
Before the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude the Pope and Patriarch performed the Consecration of the Very Reverend Archimandrite Isaac Tsapoglou, a priest seconded from the Holy Metropolis of Elassona, to Principal of the “St Athanasios” Patriarchal Academy, awarding him the Patriarchal certificate of appointment.
Addressing the new Principal Archimandrite Isaac, the Patriarch stated the following: "My dear Father Isaac, like the father full of love and affection together with the Holy Hierarchs, the Patriarchal Vicar His Eminence of Naucratis and His Grace the Bishop of Tamiathus, we welcome you solemnly in the midst of the feast of the Most Holy Theotokos. You came to the same Fr. Isaac and we rejoice, because we all love you, especially I who met you years ago and even more the Elder Germanos, because the soul of a sanctified Hierarch, Spyridon of Langadas, flutters in heaven and is rejoices because his spiritual children came to assist the Missionary Patriarch. The Elder Spyridon loved the Mission, which is why God considered him worthy before he departed, to come past the Monastery of St Savvas, to venerate and to give us courage and strength”, he noted and continued:
"Your new duties, Fr. Isaac, will be as Principal of the Patriarchal Academy , which I started with so much love and dreams, for with tears I begged Saint Sava to oversee and little by little I see young shoots from all over Africa studying and growing and becoming shady trees, under which many souls rest and will rest.
You will remember that St Nektarios, the Saint of our century, very much loved seminarians.When I quietly chant his troparion, I also add “the custodian of Rizareios” because he loved the seminary students. The youth who in the future within themselves will receive a precious treasure, the divine pearl, the Sacrament of the priesthood and why not some of them also that of the hierarchy.
To take a torch from our hands, like the Olympians who took the flame from ancient Olympia to pass it on. We give them another light, called the Light of Christ. We will give them this light and with it they will shine in the hearts of our brothers and sisters in Africa, in the shadow of death, in poverty and misery.
Thank you as a spiritual father for coming to us again. We love you and admire you for the quiet silence of your life".
Finally, the Primlate of Alexandria expressed his thanks and gratitude to the His Eminence Chariton, Metropolitan of Elassona: "From this position I would like to thank His Eminence Metropolitan Chariton of Elassona, who lovingly offers you from the Diocese of Elassonos to serve with us . God hears my prayer and sends me few but fine children, because quality is not in quantity, but quality is in few and in ethos and in obedience and diligence ".
