Sunday of the Cross was solemnly celebrated at the Church of St. Nicholas in Hamzawi, Cairo.
Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa presided over the Orthros and Divine Liturgy, accompanied by the Metropolitans Nikodimos of Memphis and Nikolaos of Ermoupolis, while Archbishop Damianos of Sinai, Faran, and Raitho attended the Divine Liturgy. The hymns were sung by the Protopsaltes of the Greek Community of Cairo, Giannis Kountrias, and the Arabic-speaking chanters, Tony Atala and Paisios Bissoy.
“Where is this Cross from, Your Excellency, Mr. Ambassador? Where did they give it to me?” the Patriarch asked the Greek Ambassador and suddenly gave the answer “From Odessa, the place where I served for ten years.”
“I would like to dedicate today’s celebration to our brothers who suffer in Ukraine and especially in the city I loved, Odessa. We will not judge today, but we will pray that unity will come among them. The Holy Cross, which both peoples worship, and rejoice to give them justice so that the Holy Easter may come in peace.” And continuing his speech, he said with love, “I came up from Alexandria to offer you the Holy Cross, to bless the beautiful and God-fearing country of Egypt, to bless our homeland, Greece, and our beautiful Cyprus.”
“We thank you Archbishop Damianos for bringing us the blessing of Mount Sinai,” the Patriarch said.
Then everyone was taken to the Throne Room, where they enjoyed a rich treat.
The Greek State was represented by the Ambassador of Greece in Cairo Nikolaos Garilidis and the Consul General Maria Zisi.
Source: ekkairo.org