A Moving Christmas Day at St. Catherine’s Experienced by Faithful Christians, 57 Years After the Violent Abandonment of the Once-Flourishing Greek Community in Suez.
The faithful gathered for a Christmas Eve Divine Liturgy full of symbolism, led by Metropolitan Savvas of Nubia. He officiated at the Orthros and presided over the Divine Liturgy in the recently renovated and beautifully maintained Holy Church. The church, consecrated two years ago, was blessed in a solemn rite by the Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa on November 25, 2022, marking a new chapter in the history of the Community Church.
The Christmas Divine Liturgy was attended by members of parliament from three Egyptian political parties, representatives of the Suez General Security and members of the city’s Journalists Union, among others.
Visibly moved, Metropolitan Savvas of Nubia expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all those who honored the event with their presence and thanked the local authorities for their invaluable support of the Church. He also conveyed the warm wishes and love of Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria.
After the service, visitors and faithful enjoyed the warm hospitality of the Metropolis during a festive gathering in the church courtyard. Metropolitan Savvas also gave an interview to an Egyptian television channel in which he spoke about the meaning of Christmas and the history of the Holy Church.
After the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Savvas, accompanied by a group of faithful, visited the Maronite Church, located a short distance from St. Catherine, to offer Christmas greetings.
It is noteworthy that every fifteen days a Divine Liturgy is celebrated in the Holy Church of St. Catherine in Suez.
Author: Vasilis Poularikas
