THE FEAST OF ST GEORGE OLD CAIRO

           Today, Friday 6th May 2016, and with great splendour, the memory of Saint George the Great Martyr was celebrated in the Patriarchal Monastery of St George in Old Cairo, as Friday is a day of rest in Egypt.

            The festive Divine Liturgy was led by His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, together with their Eminences the Metropolitans Nicholas of Ermopolis, Patriarchal Vicar of the Arabic Speakers, Nicholas of Memphis, Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo, Niphon of Pilousion, Abbot of the celebrating Monastery of St George in Old Cairo, His Grace Meletios Bishop of NaucratisAbbot of the Holy Monastery of St Savvas the Sanctified in Alexandria, the Exarch of the Patriarchate of Moscow Father Viktos Kalouga and many priests.

           The Divine Liturgy was celebrated in Greek, Arabic, Russian and English, due to the number of diverse language speakers present. Present also at the Eucharist were Mr. Spyridon Kamalakis, Megas Archon Logothetis of the Patriarchal Throne and Chairman of the Ancient Order of the Paravalenes of St Savvas, as well as Mr. Theodoros Panagopoulos, Megas Archon Protekdikos and Chairman of the Brotherhood of Office Bearers of the Patriarchal Throne of St Mark, together also with a large group of Office Bearers from Greece. The homily was preached in Greek by His Grace Meletios Bishop of Naucratis and His Eminence Nicholas Metropolitan of Ermopolis in Arabic.

           Prior to the end of the Divine Liturgy, Father George Ferreli, member of the Brotherhood of St Egidius, gave His Beatitude an official invitation from Pope Francis of Rome to visit Assisi in September this year.

           Before the Dismissal of the Divine Liturgy His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa consecrated three distinguished scholars, admitting them to the Brotherhood of Office Bearers, Mr. Aris Lyhnaras, a Lawyer as Archon Ekdikos and Messrs. Konstantinos Botsis and Dimitrios Kafetzis, both Doctors, as Archon Aktouarios.

          Following the end of the Eucharistic Synaxis, a procession took place in the grounds of the Holy Monastery and then the inauguration was done of the great Refectory where free food will be offered daily to poor pilgrims.

          The Divine Liturgy was broadcast live by the CTV channel of the Coptic Church.