Each day of Holy Week has its own special weight in recording the Passion of Jesus, towards Golgotha and the Crucifixion. On the evening of Holy Tuesday, one of the most popular hymns of the church tradition, the Troparion of Kassiane, is sung.
With this hymn writing, the Sacred Service of Holy Tuesday is sealed, as it is the last troparion, through which we learn about the pious and learned poetess of Byzantium. In Alexandria, an extremely historic city with its Christian stamp indelible in the time, but also in the life of the Church, this most moving afternoon the Service of the Bridegroom was held in the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, by Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and all Africa. The absolutely devout atmosphere connected the greatness of Holy Week with the historical weight given by the personality of Kassiane and created divine emotions and beneficial redemption in the faithful present.
The vision of the Patriarch, with the familiar gaze of paternal love, inspired everyone with the need to reflect and reconcile their personal path with the universal path, as taught by Jesus. Next to him, the Metropolitan Panteleimon of Naucratis, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod, also gave his own touching tones by praying together, while Archimandrite Isaac, Schoolmaster of the Patriarchal School of Alexandria officiated the Divine Service. The excellent great voice of the chanter, Mr. Konstantinos Papaggelis, who had just arrived in the Great City, disseminated the hymnology of Kassiane inside the Holy Church, with the participation of our constant compatriot in the chantry, Mr. Ioannis Raptis.
Attending the service were the Consul General of Greece Mr. Athanasios Kotsions with his wife the esteemed Mrs. Joanna, the Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria Mr. Andreas Vafiades, the Chairlady of the Hellenic Naval Club and the Society of Greek Scientists “Ptolemy I” Mrs. Lilika Thlivitou, the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Mr. Byron Vafieades with his wife and others.
It is a great fortune for the Alexandrian parishioner to be able to attend church and be blessed by His Beatitude at the same time, during the Great Week of the Lord’s Passion. The friendly Primate, who every morning one will meet praying in the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of Saint Savvas the Sanctified, giving everyone an example of hope and fervent faith.
Text-photos: Grigorios Haliakopoulos (Author-Journalist of the Greek Community of Alexandria)
