After eleven years, the Church of St. Nicholas in El Ibrahimiya in Alexandria reopened, with Patriarch Theodore himself tolling the bells at the historic bell tower.
The church was built exactly 121 years ago, in 1899, by the great benefactor Konstantinos Gogos and his spouse Mariogka. The church is still an eloquent proof of the history of the Greek community in Alexandria in the last century.
This church is dedicated to sailors. Patriarch Theodore made special reference to Nikolas Eleftheriou from Alexandria who always wholeheartedly supported this historic temple.
All of them attended the first Divine Liturgy that took place at the church – after its full renovation – in the presence of Patriarch Theodore, and the enthronement of Metropolitan Narcissus of Naucratis in the temple. From now on the Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria will have his own temple for conducting the religious services.
The Patriarch presented Metropolitan Narcissus with a special gift on the occasion of today’s event: a bishop’s crosier that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew had offered to Patriarch Theodore in Myra, Lycia, where Saint Nicholas served as Archbishop.
Bishop Germanos of Tamiathus, and the Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod, Father Nikodimos Totkas attended the Divine Liturgy during which the Patriarch commemorated all the clergy who served in this Greek Orthodox church in Alexandria.
Source: ANA-MPA