On Friday, 21 November 2025, the Feast of the Entrance of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple, Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa presided at the Divine Liturgy celebrated at the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified in Alexandria.
In attendance and joining in prayer were Metropolitan Gabriel of Leontopolis, Elder Hierarch; Metropolitan Germanos of Tamiathis; and Bishop Damaskinos of Mareotis.
After the Divine Liturgy, the Patriarch presided over a festive Doxology marking the Day of the Hellenic Armed Forces, offering prayers of thanksgiving to Almighty God for His protection and the flourishing of this distinguished national institution.
Addressing the officers and non-commissioned officers present, the Patriarch expressed paternal affection and wished that the Most Holy Theotokos, the “Invincible Champion,” would always extend her grace over the Hellenic Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as over the entire Greek Nation.
He emphasized that the blessing and protection of the Mother of God should always accompany those who guard the “Thermopylae” of the Nation with faith, self-sacrifice, and unwavering courage, defending the sacred heritage of Hellenism.
With deep emotion, he continued: “My children, since today our Homeland celebrates the Day of the Armed Forces and we have offered the customary Doxology, I want to open my heart to you. Every time I travel toward Mersa Matruh and pass by El Alamein, I see on my right the cemetery where the Greek heroes who fell during the Second World War rest.
Each time, I descend reverently to offer a Trisagion for them, for their sacrifice remains profoundly relevant and continues to speak to all our hearts. They are the children of our Homeland, the immortal guardians of freedom, and their memory is sacred.
Today, on this sacred day, I feel the need to express heartfelt gratitude to our Egypt, in the person of its Honorable President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who generously grants us the freedom to fulfill our spiritual and humanitarian mission.
I also wish to thank the Honorable President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Tasoulas, as well as the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and all those who labor for peace, reconciliation, and the protection of human life, freedom, and dignity.
Today, I offer a fervent prayer for the island of Cyprus, beseeching our sweet Mother, the Theotokos, to intercede so that just and lasting solutions may soon be granted to the whole island.”
The Patriarch then highlighted the historic contribution of the Greek Nation to Egypt and made special mention of prominent figures of Hellenism whose lives, witness, and service adorned Orthodoxy and the Great Church of Alexandria.
Concluding his address, the Patriarch offered his paternal blessing to all present, praying that Divine Grace would continually accompany their noble and high-minded mission – a mission not merely military but profoundly humanitarian, in service of peace, freedom, and human dignity.
The attending officers, speaking on behalf of all, thanked the Patriarch for his warm hospitality and paternal words. They expressed admiration for the multifaceted work of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, which stands as a beacon of hope and love for the entirety of Africa. As a sign of respect and gratitude, they presented His Beatitude with honorary plaques on behalf of their crews.
It is worth noting that on 19 and 20 November, delegations of the Hellenic Navy and crew members from the three warships visited the Patriarchal See. During their visit, they received the Patriarchal Blessing and toured the historic sites of the Patriarchate, gaining a deeper appreciation of its spiritual and historical legacy.
