The Holy Metropolis of Argolis warmly welcomed Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa to the Asia Minor town of Nea Kios on Sunday, 6 September 2026.
The Patriarch visited Argolis following an invitation from Nikolaos Papageorgiou, Greece’s Ambassador to Egypt, who was born in Nea Kios. The visit of the Primate of the ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria constituted an important ecclesiastical event and an honour for the local Church and the faithful of Argolis.
On Sunday morning, Patriarch Theodoros II, accompanied by Metropolitan Georgios of Guinea, Exarch of Coastal Africa, representative of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Athens and Director of its Office, concelebrated the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy with Metropolitan Nektarios of Argolis at the Church of Saint Irene.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Patriarch of Alexandria celebrated a memorial service for the Greeks of Asia Minor who fell at the hands of the Turkish State.
The local authorities, Members of Parliament from Argolis and a large number of faithful attended the service. The hymns were chanted by a choir directed by Dimitrios Karkalatos, Protopsaltis of the Metropolitan Church and President of the Association of Byzantine Cantors of Argolis.
A reception followed, hosted by the parish council of the Church of Saint Irene in Nea Kios. The parish priest, Protopresbyter Father Demosthenes Gatsios, and Father Elias Gatsios warmly thanked the Patriarch of Alexandria for visiting Nea Kios. They also expressed their gratitude to Ambassador Nikolaos Papageorgiou for arranging the visit and to Metropolitan Nektarios of Argolis for granting permission for the historic event.
During his stay, Patriarch Theodore visited the city of Nafplio and the historic Church of Theomana–Hodegetria in the main square of Nea Kios. He was given a tour of the church by Father Demosthenes Gatsios and viewed the icons that were preserved from the Asia Minor Catastrophe. The icons constitute an important ecclesiastical treasure for the local Church of Argolis.
