Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa, is paying an official visit to Cyprus and was received at the Ministry of Defense.
The Patriarch had a private meeting with the Minister of Defense Mr. Charalambos Petridis in the presence of the Chief of the National Guard Lieutenant General Democritus Zervakis and the Director General of the Ministry Mr. Andreas Loukas. The Minister welcomed the Patriarch to Cyprus, emphasizing that his presence on our island coincides with tomorrow's great feast of Orthodoxy, as on the Nativity of the Most Holy Virgin, the entire family of our Armed Forces celebrates.
He also informed the Patriarch that tomorrow a delegation of National Guard officials based in Egypt and participating in the multinational exercise "BRIGHT STAR" will celebrate the Day of the Armed Forces of Cyprus in a celebration to be held in Alexandria at the Community Church of the Annunciation.
Mr. Petridis praised the timeless and invaluable work of the Patriarchate both in supporting and promoting the positions of Cyprus and for the preservation of the Greek element in the region and throughout the African continent.
For his part, the Patriarch expressed particular joy that he is in Cyprus, noting that he was born on another nearby island, Crete. "I no longer count how many times I have come to Cyprus, because now I feel that it is my second home. "Every time I come, I feel my heart full of emotion, awe, as well as responsibility towards the people in the vast continent of Africa where I tend to 54 countries and with great joy meet the expatriate Cypriots there", the Patriarch pointed out.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Minister of Defense because, as he said, his regular presence in Egypt sends the message that the Mediterranean is the sea of peace and love.
