LAST UPDATE: 19:49
The funeral service of the blessed Metropolitan of Pelusium, Nifon, took place in the Holy Monastery of St. George in Old Cairo.
Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodore presided over the funeral service and spoke with heartfelt words about his spiritual son, to whom, as he characteristically said, Greeks and Egyptians came to bid farewell and mourn.
“Our brother, the smiling man, Nifon, the High Priest, fell asleep in the Lord. He was counted among the High Priests of the Apostolic Throne of St. Mark… And in difficult times, Bishop Nifon, will be coming to comfort us, as brother and friend to each and every one of us.
Please allow me to go back in time, return to my island Crete, to our common monastery of Agarathos where both as young children dedicated our lives to God by becoming monks in this historic monastery. In the historic Metropolis of Lampi and Sfakia, Fr. Niphon was always coming to meet me in the mountains of Crete to give me courage. The years have passed and I asked Nifon to come to Egypt because I needed new clergy at the beginning of my Patriarchy and the late Metropolitan came and dedicated his whole life to this monastery where today we say our last goodbyes to you, our brother Nifon…
A part of your life will always belong to the history of this monastery. And when hundreds of pilgrims come, they will remember the smile on your face, the Cross or the Icon you used to gift, but above all, the words of consolation that you were saying to everyone. As a Patriarch, as your spiritual father, was never disappointed. The time came, my brother Nifon, and you went to Port Said, where you received the historic title of Pelusium. You loved your flock and the people. You made such a nice effort and learned the Arabic language to communicate with everyone”, said among other things the Patriarch of Alexandria.