On New Year’s Eve 2024 at the Patriarchal Mansion in Alexandria, joy was reflected on everyone’s faces. After the presentation of festive wishes and the traditional carols by the Clergy of the Patriarchal Court, the African students of the “Athanasios the Great” Patriarchal Academy of Alexandria and the staff of the Patriarchate to His Beatitude Theodoros II Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa at the Private Patriarchal Office, Great Vespers followed for the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord and of St Basil the Great, officiated by His Beatitude in the Patriarchal Chapel of Saints Theodori,which was filled with the faithful of the community..
Together with him were His Eminence Panteleimon, Metropolitan of Naucratis, Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod and His Eminence Narcissus Metropolitan of Pelusium, Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria. Also present were the Most Reverend Germanos Metropolitan of Tamiathus, Head of the Holy Monastery of St Savvas of Alexandria, the Principal of the “St Athanasios” Patriarchal Academy, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Isaac Tsapoglou and all the rest of the Greek and arab clergy of the Holy Archdiocese of the Great City.
Also in attendance were, His Excellency the Consul General in Alexandria Mr. Ioannis Pyrgakis with his wife, the Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria Mr. Andreas Vafiades, the Captain and Liaison of the Hellenic Navy Mr. Konstantinos Varouxis together with his wife who is also an officer of the Navy, the President of the Naval Club of Alexandria and the Association of Greek Scientists “Ptolemy I” Mrs. Lilica Thlivitou et al.
Afterwards, in the Throne Room, His Holiness blessed the new year St Basil cakes, cut the first piece and then invited the official institutional representatives to cut pieces from the St Basil cakes in turn, an act that, apart from being a Christian custom, also symbolizes the unity of all Egyptian Hellenes in the City of Alexander.
During his address, the venerable Primate of the Alexandrian Church referred to the progress of the arduous missionary work, called on everyone to intensify their prayers for the suffering peoples of Africa, for the immediate cessation of hostilities in the long-suffering Ukraine and in the Middle East which has been hemorrhaging for many years, where man, the living image of God is tortured, destroyed and killed, regardless of race, creed or language, and also for the the unfailing progress and prosperity of Egypt, Greece and Cyprus.
Furthermore, he expressed his paternal grateful thanks to his colleagues in the Patriarchal See, clergy and laity, while also wishing the Consul General of Greece in Alexandria, Mr. Pyrgakis and the Chairman of the Hellenic Community of the Great City Mr. Vafiadis, complete success in their duties for the good of our fellow citizens.
It is noted that the preceding address of His Eminence Metropolitan Narcissus, Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria, referred to the personal struggle, the talents, the commitment to duty and the well-known virtue of magnanimity and love, which embraces every person, as well as His Beatitude’s permanently positive attitude towards the God-given gift of life.
