THE PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA RECEIVED THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE OF CYPRUS

His Beatitude theodoros Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa expressed the prayer for the flames in Cyprus to stop, as he welcomed the Minister of Defense of Cyprus, Mr. Charalambos Petridis to the See of the Patriarchate on Sunday July 4th 2021.

The Primate of Alexandria prayed to the Blessed Virgin, as the All Conquering Virgin, to stop the evil of the fire on the blessed island of Cyprus "to stop the roar of the flame, and to guard the people who are putting up a great fight at this time for the fires to cease and peace and prosperity to come again to this blessed island ", as Patriarch Theodoros characteristically said, expressing his sorrow on the occurrence.

It should be noted that, welcoming the Minister of Defense, Charalambos Petridis, who represented Cyprus at the inauguration of the new Egyptian Base of "July 3" in Marsa Matrouh, at the See of the ancient Patriarchate, there was a moving moment when Patriarch Theodore in the hall of the tragically deceased Cypriot Patriarch Petros, sanf the “Memory Eternal” next to the Cypriot flag, sending his support to the Cypriot people in these difficult times as they are affected by the fires.

At the same time, Patriarch Theodoros warmly thanked President Nikos Anastasiadis and the people of Cyprus for their support of the missionary work of the Orthodox Church of Africa, while the Minister of Defense assured the Alexandrian Primate that Cyprus is always beside the Patriarch.

In the presence of Bishop Germanos of Tamiathus and the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Egypt Mr. Homer Mavromatis, the Primate of Alexandria stressed his great joy "that there is such a beautiful friendship between Egypt, Cyprus and Greece, which are surrounded by a blessed sea, our Mediterranean and where Cyprus holds an exceptional and strategic position ".

"I want to thank you that Cyprus has never forgotten me in my missionary struggle. "Many expatriates in Africa come from Cyprus and support me in my work," said Patriarch Theodoros, addressing the Minister of Defense, thanking him for his visit to Egypt, as "this is how the two countries come closer," he said, offering an icon of Saints Constantine and Helen of Cairo, a genuine copy of the icon kept in the church of the same name of the Greek Egyptian community in Cairo.

For his part, the Minister of Defense offered the Primate of the Orthodox Church in Africa a symbolic gift, a plaque with Cyprus in relief and the symbol of peace and love, emphasizing that "we hope to go through these difficult times painlessly." "We are always by your side in your difficult work in Orthodoxy and Africa," he said characteristically.

At the same time, Mr. Petridis made special reference to the excellent relations between Egypt and Cyprus, emphasizing that "we have excellent and very close relations with Egypt, both bilaterally and on a tripartite level with Greece and other multilateral groups. "Our goal is always security and peace in the wider region."

Referring in particular to the inauguration of the new Egyptian Naval Base of "July 3" in Marsa Matrouh, where he represented the Republic of Cyprus, he described it as a "Strategically important Base, which can provide more security for the wider Eastern Mediterranean region and not only", while he added that" we strengthen our cooperation and our joint trainings with Egypt ".

For his part, Patriarch Theodoros expressed his satisfaction with the extremely important tripartite cooperation of Egypt, Cyprus and Greece, in all areas, noting that "strong military countries can be ready and give answers to all, because God created us all to live peacefully and in fellowship".

The Prelate of Alexandria expressed special thanks to the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus Mr. Homeros Mavromatis as well as to the Defense Attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Egypt, Lieutenant Colonel Mr. Costas Fotiou, who completes his mission to Cairo and thanked them warmly for their support of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, in the presence of Archimandrite Father Elpidoforos Limneos and the African seminarians of the patriarchal academy "Athanasios the Great".