Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria and All Africa presided over the Divine Liturgy for the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross at the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Cairo as reported by ekalexandria.org.
The Patriarchal Vicars of Cairo and of the Arabic-speaking faithful, Metropolitan of Nikodimos of Memphis and Metropolitan Nikolaos of Ermoupolis, Archbishop Damianos of Sinai, Consul General of Greece in Cairo Maria Zissi and the representatives of the Greek and Arabic-speaking Greek Orthodox Communities attended the service.
“The Cross is among us, adorned with these flowers we offer with so much love today,” stressed the Patriarch of Alexandria, pointing out that 2,000 years ago people gave Him a crown of thorns. Instead of gratitude, they gave Him four huge nails.”
“But today we show our gratitude by chanting ‘Before Thy Cross, we bow down in worship…’.”
The Patriarch of Alexandria also made special reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that “all humankind is tired of the pandemic and wants to find some rest,” while emphasizing that “the Blood and the Body of Jesus Christ is the greatest medicine against the pandemic.”
Finally, he thanked Metropolitan Damianos of Sinai for attending the service, and the monastic brotherhood of Saint Catherine’s monastery in Sinai.