Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros joined the prayers for the end of the pandemic on Christmas Day with those of the Coptic Patriarch Tawandros, who visited him at the Cairo Patriarchal Vicariate in the historic Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas in Hamzawi to send his wishes on the Feast of the Nativity of Jesus.
The two Patriarchs exchanged wishes on the occasion of the great feast, but also send the message both for the harmonious coexistence of the two churches and for the strong cooperation of the three states and their three leaders, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Nikos Anastasiadis.
In fact, Patriarch Theodore stressed the support he provided and his great appreciation for the vision of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for the country’s programs for a better quality of life, while the Coptic Patriarch referred to the importance of the Nile River.
At the same time, in the presence of the Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo, Metropolitan Nikodimos of Memphis, the Patriarchal Vicar for the Arab-speaking, Metropolitan Nikolaos of Ermoupolis, and the Bishop Theodore of Babylonia and the holy clergy, Patriarch Theodore thanked the Coptic Church of the assistance provided to the Patriarchate, especially its assistance in medication supplies.
“I wish your Coptic Church, which is so big and strong, health and joy, as you fight so that all children have access to schools and hospitals.
Your struggle is also important for the harmonious coexistence with Muslims because this is the message of Christ and peace,” said Patriarch Theodore to the Primate of the Coptic Church, giving him an incense burner, and a diary printed in Arabic, dedicated to St. Catherine of Sinai.
On his part, the Coptic Patriarch showed his emotion because on this day of Christmas for the Orthodox Church he is with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch with the Greek community (editor’s note: the Christmas of the Coptic Church is celebrated on January 7).
“I am glad to meet today with you, the hierarchs, the clergy and the congregation of your church,” said the Coptic Patriarch, with the Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St. George in Old Cairo, Fr. Damaskinos, interpreting the words of the Coptic Patriarch in Greek to the journalists and media outlets
At the same time, it is worth noting that the Coptic Patriarch praised with very warm words the missionary work of the African Orthodox Church.
It should be noted that in the great Christmas Divine Liturgy that had been completed shortly before the arrival of the Coptic Patriarch, Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria had warmly welcomed the Egyptian political and military authorities who came to honor him, the Orthodox Church and the Greek community.
Among the representatives, the presence of the Muslims of Egypt and their representative, Imam Dr. Mohamed El Amir, who was warmly welcomed by Patriarch Theodore by saying that Christians and Muslims “are brother under the same roof.”
The Patriarch of Alexandria stressed that “here today, from the house of God, we proclaim peace all over the world, and proclaim the reconciliation of the peoples in our blessed Egypt, which God loves, and which as I proclaim everywhere, the light of the Nile is the door of Africa that has the gift of God, the waters of the Nile.
Source: ANA-MPA
