On Thursday, January 5, 2023, Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa officiated at the Service of the Royal and Great Hours of Theophany, the Great Vespers, and Divine Liturgy at the Holy Patriarchal Church of Saint Savvas the Sanctified.
During the Great Feast of Theophany, Patriarch Theodore II presided over the Divine Liturgy and the Sanctification of the Waters, while also being joined in the Divine Services by Metropolitan Panteleimon of Naucratis, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Narkissos of Pelusium, Patriarchal Commissioner of Alexandria, as well as Metropolitan Germanos of Tamiatheus, Proistamenos of the designated Patriarchal Monastery, at the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, in the presence of the Consul General of Greece in Alexandria, Athanasios Kotsionis, representatives of the country, the Greek Community, the Cypriot Brotherhood, Greek associations and institutions and a large number of Christians.
Immediately after, the Patriarch, the holy clergy, the authorities, and the faithful went to the facilities of the Hellenic Naval Club of Alexandria, where the sanctification of the waters and throwing of the Holy Cross took place. Five Greek youths dove into the icy waters of the sea to retrieve the Holy Cross. Patriarch Theodore II offered commemorative gifts and blessings to the blessed youths and wished them well for the feast day and year to come.
Afterwards, the Primate of the Church of Alexandria blessed the Vasilopita of the Hellenic Naval Club. In his short greeting, after congratulating the President of the Hellenic Naval Club, Lilika Thlivitou, and the members of the Board of Directors for their multifaceted action, referred to the coexistence of the countries of the eastern Mediterranean and the imperative need for the peaceful coexistence to prevail, of solidarity and harmonious cooperation, emphasizing with particular emphasis that “the Mediterranean must remain the sea that will always unite the peoples around it in dialogue and constructive coexistence. We must never allow it to act as a ‘water wall’ of division and isolation between them.” This was followed by a festive reception in honor of the Patriarch, the authorities, and all present.
