The Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa presided over the Great Vespers for the Feast of St. Sabbas the Holy in the Catholikon of the Patriarchal Monastery dedicated to the Saint.
Concelebrating with him were the Metropolitans Panteleimon of Ptolemais, Narcissus of Pelusium, and Germanos of Tamiathus.
With words of love, the Patriarch addressed the faithful, wishing that St. Sabbas would bring comfort, blessing, and spiritual warmth to their lives and the lives of their families. He also informed the local Church community of his recent missionary journey to the Holy Metropolises of Zimbabwe and Angola, as well as to Johannesburg and Pretoria.
A particularly moving moment occurred when the Primate of the Alexandrian Throne, with tears in his eyes, offered heartfelt words of gratitude before the venerated icon of the celebrated Saint and Elder of the Monastery. This was on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of his unanimous election to the Patriarchal See. As a gesture of lifelong gratitude, he dedicated a precious pastoral staff made of precious materials of African origin to the Holy Altar of the Holy Temple.
Earlier, the Patriarch of Alexandria received at the Patriarchal Palace in Alexandria Captain Chrysostomos Prangos of the Hellenic Navy, who officially assumed the role of Liaison Officer between the prestigious Hellenic Navy and its Egyptian counterpart.
