By Emilios Polygenis
The Exarch of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Athens, Metropolitan George of Guinea, visited Vatopedi Monastery.
Following the invitation of Elder Ephraim, the Metropolitan will preside over the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of the Holy Cincture of the Theotokos.
Metropolitan George was warmly welcomed by Elder Ephraim and the Fathers of the Brotherhood of Vatopedi Monastery.
Afterwards, the Doxology was held at the katholikon of the Monastery.
In his address, Elder Ephraim welcomed the Metropolitan to the Monastery, stressing that he and the Fathers were particularly pleased that the Metropolitan would preside over the Divine Liturgy.
“Our homeland, the State and the Church, should be together,” Elder Ephraim said.
The Abbot of Vatopedi Monastery said, “The late Patriarch Peter VII of Alexandria was preparing to come here 15 years ago. Unfortunately, he never arrived and today your presence is replenishing the absence of the late Patriarch on Mount Athos.”
Elder Ephraim also referred to the Holy Cincture saying that “I cannot imagine Vatopedi Monastery without the relic of the Holy Cincture.”
Metropolitan of Guinea, in turn, thanked Elder Ephraim for his invitation to preside over the Divine Liturgy for the celebration of the Feast of Holy Cincture.
“It has been said that the tear of a saintly monk’s prayer is greater than many sermons from the pulpit. It has also been said that grace or miracle fill the gaps of our futile efforts,” the Metropolitan said.
The Metropolitan of Guinea conveyed the wishes of Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa and said, “Sin is now the new ideology of the people and virtue has been marginalized. You, with the power of your prayer rope, send out your aura of help, hope and light.”
