On Sunday, November 9, a Patriarchal Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Patriarchal Monastery of St. Savvas the Sanctified in Alexandria, presided over by Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa, in commemoration of the feast of our Father among the Saints, Nektarios, Bishop of Pentapolis the Wonderworker.
Within the Monastery stands a chapel dedicated to St. Nektarios, where on the eve of the feast a Great Festal Vespers was held, accompanied by hymns of praise to the Saint. Deep spiritual emotion filled the celebration, as it was recalled that St. Nektarios was ordained to the priesthood in 1886 by the late Patriarch Sophronios IV of Alexandria in this very monastery, a historic and sacred connection that unites the Saint eternally with the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
Concelebrating and praying with the Patriarch were Metropolitan Gabriel of Leontopolis, Chief Patriarchal Overseer; Metropolitan Germanos of Tamiathus, Abbot of the Monastery; and Bishop Damaskinos of Mareotis, Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria.
Among the distinguished guests were Mr. Ioannis Pyrgakis, Consul General of Greece in Alexandria, and Mr. John Shinkwin, Secretary for External Relations of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain.
The faithful who gathered to honor the Saint included a group of Greek pilgrims from Australia and numerous members of the Greek Orthodox community of Alexandria, who filled the courtyard of the monastery with reverence and emotion.
Addressing Mr. Shinkwin and the Australian pilgrims, the Patriarch expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain and Archbishop Makarios of Australia, both distinguished hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, for their active and generous support of the missionary, philanthropic, spiritual, and educational work carried out by the Patriarchate of Alexandria across the African continent.
“These two hierarchs are true benefactors of our Patriarchate,” said Patriarch Theodoros, conveying his paternal blessing and deepest thanks.
The Patriarch also warmly thanked Archimandrite Theophilos Prousalis, a cleric of the Metropolis of Piraeus, who was visiting the Patriarchate of Alexandria. Through him, the Patriarch sent blessings and greetings to Metropolitan Seraphim of Piraeus, with whom he shares a longstanding bond of brotherly friendship.
In a deeply moving moment, Patriarch Theodoros reflected on the trials that St. Nektarios endured during his service in Egypt, when, by decision of the then Patriarch Sophronios IV, he was unjustly dismissed from the Patriarchate.
“It was a moment of human weakness, not of lack of love,” he said. “The late Patriarch Sophronios, advanced in age and burdened by the difficulties of the time, was influenced by voices that misinterpreted the spiritual stature of the Saint. Yet he never ceased to love him — and St. Nektarios never ceased to pray for him. Two hearts, wounded yet united in the mystery of divine forgiveness and love.”
The Patriarch continued: “Perhaps that bitterness became the soil in which the seed of holiness was sown. For holiness is not born amid honor and acclaim, but in tears, injustice, and patience. Thus, God revealed St. Nektarios as an eternal light of consolation for all who face life’s trials with love, endurance, and forgiveness. Saint Nektarios, man of God, pray for us.”
