The Holy Cross of the Apostle and Evangelist Mark was awarded by Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa, to the professor of the Hellenic Cultural Center of Cairo, John Fourtounas and collaborator of the newspaper of the Greek Community in Cairo “Neo Fos”.
The Primate of the Patriarchate of Alexandria spoke with the warmest words about the research work of Fourtounas, who with his research highlights forgotten aspects of Greek history and Egyptian Hellenism.
The Patriarchal letter was read by Metropolitan Nikodimos of Memphis.
“Dear John, you are a man of spirit. You are an outstanding historian and always like the worker bee, you spend hours in libraries. Dear John, thank you for highlighting forgotten traditions and stories. All your works are filled with love for our community and for our Orthodoxy… Personally I have known you for years and years since I started my ministry at the Patriarchate for this and with the Metropolitan of Memphis who appreciates you as well and in the presence of the Ambassador and the President, I would like to thank you and ask you to continue your research. Do not forget that in the year 200 of the Greek Revolution… freedom is gained only with the blood of the Saints and the sanctity of the faith”, said Patriarch Theodore awarding the Cross of the Apostle Mark to Giannis Fourtounas.
Source: ekkairo.org