On Sunday, February 1, 2026, Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Panama City.
Concelebrating at the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy were Metropolitan George of Guinea; the Bishops of the Holy Metropolis of Mexico: Athenagoras of Myrina, Timothy of Assos, Hesychios of Markianē, Osios of Sasima; and Athenagoras of Nazianzus of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Also serving were the Grand Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne, Fr. Alex Karloutsos; Fr. Martin Ritsi, until recently Executive Director of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC); and all the clergy of the Holy Metropolis of Mexico from Panama, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean.
Present at the service were the Ambassador of Greece, Efthymios Efthymiades; the Archon Grand Actuary and National Commander of the Archons in America, Dr. Antonis Lymberakis; Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Patriarchate of Alexandria; the new Executive Director of OCMC, Dr. Nathan Hoppe; Professor and former Secretary General for Greeks Abroad, Mr. Ioannis Chrysoulakis; attorney Mr. Sakis Kehagioglou; community leaders; and a large number of faithful. During the Divine Liturgy, the Patriarch ordained Subdeacon Michael Karloutsos to the diaconate.
Before the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Iakovos of Mexico thanked the Patriarch for his honored presence in Panama and for his participation in the celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Holy Metropolis. He referred to the history and achievements of the Metropolis in Central America, to the Greek community, and to all those who support the work of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He then bestowed upon the Alexandrian Primate the Supreme Decoration, First Class, of the Holy Metropolis of Mexico.
In his response, the Patriarch thanked the Metropolitan for the honorary invitation and warm hospitality. He also thanked the Greek Ambassador for his presence and all those who had traveled from afar to participate in the celebrations. He congratulated the leadership and members of the Greek Community of Panama for their remarkable dynamism and for having succeeded in creating a very strong presence in the country. He honored Metropolitan Iakovos with the Lion of Saint Mark and bestowed the Order of the Taxiarch of Saint Savvas upon the President of the Greek Community, Mr. Panagiotis Lymberopoulos. Finally, he presented an icon of the Panagia of Agkárathos to the Cathedral and to the Greek Community.
A festive banquet followed in the large event hall of the Greek Community.
Late in the evening, the Patriarch departed for Cairo. At Panama’s airport, he was bid farewell by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez; Metropolitan Iakovos and his associates; and the President of the Greek Community. The Minister once again thanked the Patriarch, on behalf of the President, for his presence in the country and asked him to pray for the people of Panama.
In the preceding days, the Patriarch visited the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Panama City, which was inaugurated by Pope Francis, as well as the Catholic University of Santa María la Antigua, where he was honored by the Rector with the Order of Saint Augustine. Finally, he blessed the marriage of Vasileios and Anastasia (Athanassopoulou).
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
Photo: Facebook/Giannis Chrisoulakis
