On Friday, July 3, 2026, Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa officiated at the opening of the recently renovated Church of the Presentation of the Lord in Tanta, the seat of the Holy Metropolis of Hermopolis.
The Patriarch presided over the Divine Liturgy, concelebrating with Metropolitan Nicholas of Hermopolis, Metropolitan Nicodemus of Memphis, Metropolitan Savvas of Nubia, Bishop Stephanos of Hippo, and Bishop Damaskinos of Mareotis.
Clergy and faithful from various cities across Egypt attended the service, marking an important occasion for the local Church and the Greek community in Egypt.
Among those present were the Ambassador of Greece to Egypt, Nikolaos Papageorgiou; the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Egypt, Onoufrios Oikonomides; the President of the Greek Community of Cairo, Christos Kavalis; presidents of Arabic-speaking Orthodox communities from different Egyptian cities; Bishop Pavlos of the Coptic Church in Tanta; and representatives of local authorities and institutions.
During the Divine Liturgy, Patriarch Theodoros II performed the service for the consecration of the Holy Altar and explained the significance of the rite to the faithful in attendance.
Before the conclusion of the service, the Patriarch spoke about the history of the Church of the Presentation of the Lord, recalling the prayers, sacrifices, and dedication of generations of faithful who preserved the Orthodox presence in Tanta. He expressed his joy at seeing the historic church restored and returned, fully renovated, to future generations of worshippers.
He also highlighted the church’s importance as one of the most significant spiritual and historical landmarks of the Greek community in Egypt. The Patriarch noted that the foundation stone of the church was laid on March 11, 1886, by the late Patriarch Sophronius IV of Alexandria, during a period when the Greek community of Tanta was flourishing.
Patriarch Theodoros II paid tribute to the first Greek settlers of the city, as well as to the benefactors and faithful whose dedication and sacrifices helped establish one of the most important centers of Orthodox life in Egypt.
He further noted that, beneath the church’s domes, generations of Greek Egyptians were baptized, married, gathered in prayer, and bid farewell to their loved ones, linking their presence in the land of the Nile with the Orthodox faith, the Greek language, and the traditions of their ancestors.
Patriarch Theodoros II also referred to the challenges the church faced throughout its history, including periods of decline within the once-thriving Greek community of Tanta and the gradual departure of Greeks from the region. Despite these difficulties, he noted, the church remained standing as a living witness to the presence of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Greek community in Egypt.
“The stones of this church speak,” the Patriarch said. “They speak of prayers, tears, sacrifices, miracles, and of people who loved the Church and kept the light of Orthodoxy burning in Tanta. Today, we are not simply opening the doors of a renovated church; we are renewing our hope for the future of Orthodoxy in the blessed land of Egypt.”
The Patriarch paid special tribute to Metropolitan Nicholas of Hermopolis for his dedication and many years of efforts toward the completion of the restoration project.
He emphasized that the renovation was not merely the restoration of a building, but an act of responsibility toward history, a tribute to previous generations, and a commitment to preserving the spiritual and historical legacy of the Greek community of Tanta for future generations.
In recognition of his contribution and long service, Patriarch Theodoros II awarded Metropolitan Nicholas the Grand Cross of St. Mark the Apostle and Evangelist. The distinction was presented both for his key role in the renovation of the church and to mark the 25th anniversary of his episcopal ordination by the late Patriarch Peter VII of Alexandria in 2001. The Patriarch also presented him with an episcopal engolpion.
The Patriarch then bestowed the title of Archimandrite of the Alexandrian Throne upon Fr. Nikolaos Fanous, parish priest of the Church of the Presentation of the Lord, in recognition of nearly two decades of service to the Metropolis of Hermopolis.
He also honored major benefactors Karim Khoury, Farag Mikhail, and Sharif Zorek for their generous support of the restoration project and their dedication to the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Orthodox Church.
Patriarch Theodoros II expressed his gratitude to the Arab Republic of Egypt, and particularly to President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, noting that during his presidency the Patriarchate of Alexandria has been able to restore historic churches, build new ones, and establish important ecclesiastical and charitable institutions.
He also thanked all those who contributed to the completion of the project, including members of the Greek Community of Cairo, the Arabic-speaking Orthodox faithful of Egypt, and supporters from Greece and Cyprus.
Metropolitan Nicholas of Hermopolis, in his remarks, thanked God for the completion of the project and expressed his gratitude to Patriarch Theodoros II for his support and pastoral care. He also reflected on the history of both the Metropolis of Hermopolis and the Church of the Presentation of the Lord, describing the occasion as a day of thanksgiving, remembrance, and hope.
The restoration and reopening of the historic Church of the Presentation of the Lord in Tanta, he noted, represents not only the preservation of an important church landmark, but also a testimony to the enduring presence of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Egypt and a tribute to the legacy of the Greek community in the country.
Following the Divine Liturgy, Patriarch Theodoros II planted an olive tree in the church courtyard to commemorate the occasion, praying that God grant peace, prosperity, and blessings to the entire world.
