On the afternoon of Sunday 11th April 2010, His Beatitude Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia visited the Holy Church of St Dimitrios in Zeitoun, Cairo, where the Exarchy of the Russian Church is situated, accompanied as always by His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa.
In his address the Patriarch of Moscow said: “In an atmosphere of Paschal joy I address to all of you the hopeful message of our common faith and expectation: Christ is Risen!
These days, with the continuation of the feast of Holy Pascha, the Lord deemed that we should be here in this Holy Church, the Representative of the Patriarch of Moscow in Alexandria. Following our beautiful Orthodox tradition, I came to Your Beatitude, my beloved brother in Christ, to confirm before all the brotherly love which binds us and which is a recognition of the true disciples of Christ (John 13:35)”.
“Yesterday we enjoyed the happiness of meeting and our fraternal communication with Your Beatitude. This morning we confirmed our unity in Christ through the con-celebration of the Divine Liturgy, communing together from the Holy Chalice at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Alexandria”.
He also mentioned that: In completing our visit we have arrived in the capital of Egypt to visit this Holy Church, to meet with our fellow countrymen, brothers and sisters, who live and work in this city, and to meet tomorrow with the representatives of the officials and community of Egypt”.
For ten years now this Holy Church of the Great Martyr St Dimitrios which was given by the Church of Alexandria for the spiritual needs of the Representatives of the Patriarchate of Moscow together with the Exarchy of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Moscow, comprises an important binding link in the relationship between the two great Orthodox Churches”, he added.
In comprehending the significance of this holy place we thank first of all the Lord who in wisdom takes care of everything for our salvation. We also thank Your Beatitude for your constant support of our Representatives in Cairo and our fellows who live not only in Egypt but in m any other countries on the African continent”.
