Τhe monastery of Saint Savvas of Alexandria had a unique experience today, as more than 120 members of the Greek Armed Forces, from the Frigate “Hydra” and the navy vessel “Rhodes”, sang the Greek national anthem, along with Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria.
“You hold the security of our homeland and proclaim that our seas are not cemeteries for young children and souls, but seas of security and peace”, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Africa emotionally emphasized, blessing the Commanders of our two warships and all the executives currently in Alexandria, Egypt, as part of the summer training program of the Hellenic Naval Cadet School.
In the presence of the President of the Hellenic Community of Alexandria Mr. Edmondos Kassimatis and the Greek community of the city, the Patriarch of Alexandria exchanged the commemorative gifts with the “Hydra” Commander, Captain Stavros Polidorou, and the Commander of “Rhodes”, Frigate Captain Stergios Poulios, in the presence of the Military Attache of the Greek Embassy in Cairo Captain Paris Kanoutos.
“It is my great pleasure to be here”, Patriarch Theodore said, addressing the officers of the Hellenic Navy, stressing that “peace is beautiful, but we must always prepare for the difficult days. Have my blessing and my love, from the blessed and God-fearing Egypt, the blessed Cyprus struggling to see days of freedom and our beloved homeland Greece. Your today’s pilgrimage to Saint Savvas of Alexandria was written in golden letters…”, added Theodoros during the Divine Liturgy.
He also stressed that “we all declare the friendship of the peoples, with Egypt and its leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Greece and Cyprus, so that these three countries can live peacefully in our blessed neighborhood, the blessed Mediterranean Sea”.
