Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria and All Africa went on a pilgrimage to the Chapel of Panagia Pantanassa at the headquarters of the National Guard General Staff of Cyprus on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 15.
The Chief of the National Guard General Staff, Lieutenant General Dimokritos Zervakis, welcomed the Patriarch of Alexandria who sang with great enthusiasm the kontakion of the Akathistos Hymn “O the Invincible General”.
Then, he prayed to Panagia Pantanassa to bring comfort to all people who suffer from sorrows, persecutions, sorrows, hunger, hardships, wars, diseases.
The Patriarch of Alexandria expressed admiration for this spiritual oasis that has been established in the headquarters of the General Staff and congratulated the officers who took this initiative, at a time when the Church is being tested in various ways. “It is important to have power,” said the Patriarch of Alexandria, “because when one is strong, the other respects that person.”
The Patriarch of Alexandria was accompanied by Metropolitan Georgios of Guinea and Bishop Nikodimos of Nitria.
The Patriarch of Alexandria offered the icon of St. John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria, to be placed at the chapel while he received an icon of Panagia Pantanassa, which was given as a gift by Mount Athos especially for the visit of the Patriarch to the chapel.
The Patriarch announced that the icon would be placed in the church under construction in Benghazi, Libya.
After the traditional treat at the chapel’s archontariki, the Patriarch of Alexandria attended a luncheon with the Minister of Defense of Cyprus, the Chief of the National Guard and other officers at the Officers’ Club.
Source: Patriarchate of Alexandria