On Friday, August 8, 2025, in the presence of Major General Issam Khodr, Assistant Advisor to the Prime Minister of Egypt, Mostafa Madbouly, the team from the Information Center of the Prime Ministry of the Arab Republic of Egypt conducted a press interview with Theodoros II, Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa. The interview formed part of a Prime Ministry initiative dedicated to promoting Egypt’s most significant spiritual, cultural, and historical treasures.
The discussion carried particular symbolic weight, as it highlighted monuments that serve as living witnesses to the centuries-old presence of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and the enduring legacy of Greek community in Egypt.
Among the many spiritual and historical treasures, the Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour in historic Port Said stands out — a sacred site that unites history, faith, and culture.
With visible emotion, His Beatitude spoke of the glorious history of Hellenism in Port Said, recalling the families and benefactors who, with selfless love and dedication, gave from the abundance of their hearts to build the church, which was inaugurated in 1903.
He also expressed his deep appreciation to the Greek Community of Cairo for its invaluable contribution to the recent complete restoration of the church, emphasizing that it remains “a refuge of prayer, a point of unity, and a beacon of faith” for all.
His Beatitude also revealed that cruises from Cyprus to Port Said will soon begin, paving the way for countless devout Orthodox faithful to visit the city and find the Church with its gates wide open. There, as he stressed, “the Greek community will welcome them with love, so that every visitor may feel that the Church is their home.”
In closing, His Beatitude expressed his sincere and profound gratitude to the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, for his unwavering support and care, which ensure the smooth progress of all construction and restoration works of the holy churches. “The President’s love and concern for the Greek Orthodox Church in Egypt are a precious treasure for all of us,” he noted.
The full interview, conducted by journalist Houda Al-Iraqi inside the Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour in Port Said, will soon be broadcast on the official page of the Information Centre of the Prime Minister of Egypt.
Source: Greek Community of Cairo
