On Sunday, November 8, Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria presided over the Divine Liturgy, accompanied by Metropolitan Narkissos of Naucratis, Bishop Germanos of Tamiatheus and the holy clergy. The Patriarch paid tribute to all those who opted for unity to keep the legacy of their fathers and grandfathers alive at the Holy Archangels Church in El Ibrahimiya, Alexandria.
Patriarch Theodore said to the newly elected President of the Greek Community of Alexandria, Giannis Siokas, in the presence of the Financial Supervisor, Paris Pefanis-Makris, and the Second Vice President, Mairi Pavlidou:
“I would like, Ioannis, my President, to congratulate you as your spiritual father, because you all gathered with a lot of love and responsibility as behind everything is hidden an institution called the Greek Community of Alexandria. You see, Ioannis, on these shoulders, on this homophorion, I carry the tradition of the Patriarchs. It has been two thousand years in this city. You, my children, carry on your shoulders a great weight and a great title, the ‘Senior’ Community throughout Africa, in all Greek diaspora, you are the first Community.
We call the Senior Patriarchates of Alexandria, of Constantinople, of Antioch, of Jerusalem. So, I want you to feel the Senior Greek Community of Alexandria as a pride. And my wish, my love will be, my children, to keep the tradition your fathers passed on to you. Your fathers loved the Community! They gave everything to keep our Greek Community prosperous. Whether they are alive, may God grant them a prosperous life, or they passed away, may God rest their souls, because the survivors and the descendants continue this great work, which concerns our Community, our churches, our schools, our language, our faith, our love and our cohesion with each other… ”
During the inauguration of the renovated archontariki, the Patriarch of Alexandria said: “The Church never counts in numbers. The Church is always looking for souls, kindness, love, hope. My blessing is always with you. The bell will ring here every Sunday to pray here for the Church, the Homeland, the Community. Let us spare our thoughts today for our Homeland Greece. Everyone locked in their homes praying, many frustrated, many desperate, thinking what will happen? What are we going to do? Because, my children, winter has come. And poverty is a difficult companion. Therefore, let us dedicate today the feast of the Holy Archangels to our Greek brothers who are living in these difficult times of the pandemic, the whole world, both in Egypt and in Africa,” concluded the primate.