The Church commemorated on Wednesday June 29, the memory of two of her great men, the Apostles Peter and Paul, whom the Church named “the Leaders of the Apostles” in recognition of their important work in spreading the Divine Word.
At the Holy Monastery of St. George in Old Cairo, the Grand Sacristan of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, Archimandrite Paul, presided over the solemn Divine Liturgy with Archdeacon Parthenios in a climate of religious devotion.
The Metropolitan of Memphis and Patriarchal Commissioner of Cairo Nicodemus, the Abbot of the Holy Monastery of St. George, Archimandrite Damaskinos, as well as the Fathers of the Monastery were present.
The Hymns were sung by the first cantor of the H.C.C. Mr. Alexandros Rigakis and the Arabic-speaking cantor Mr. Paisios Bishoi.
While preaching the Divine Word, Metropolitan Nicodemus referred to the difficult and full of adversities life of the Saints, who, as he said, suffered slings and arrows to preach the Word of Christ to the ends of the world. They were persecuted, imprisoned and in the end they were martyred for their faith in Christ.
He also referred to the well-known saying and exhortation of the Apostle Paul’s that he wants every Christian, like himself, to feel and say: “I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians b. 20).
And closing his Word, he wished Father Paul, on his name day, that God would give him health and strength.
The Metropolitan also wished him many years of ministering Christ from wherever He wishes.
In his response, Archimandrite Paul thanked the Metropolitan from the bottom of his heart for his warm words and said that he will serve God with zeal, self-denial and selflessness.
This was followed by a treat in the Throne Room for all present.
Source: ekkairo.org
