Greek and Cypriot Health Ministers Visit Historic St. George’s Patriarchal Monastery in Cairo

Gerges Mounir Hanna – OCP News Service – 22/10/2024

Cairo – Egypt: The Greek Health Minister, Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, and the Cypriot Health Minister, Mr. Michalis Damianos, visited St. George’s Patriarchal Monastery of the Greek Orthodox Church in Old Cairo. They were accompanied by the Greek Ambassador to Egypt, Mr. Nikolaos Papageorgiou, and the Cypriot Ambassador, Ms. Poly Ioannou.

The visitors were welcomed by the Monastery’s Head, Archimandrite Dr. Damaskinos Alazraei, who warmly greeted them and led a tour of the churches and holy sites within the monastery. Before concluding the visit, Archimandrite Alazraei hosted them in the monastery’s salon, where he gave an overview of the monastery’s history, highlighting its importance as a significant historical church and a meeting point of great civilizations. He also conveyed the blessings of His Beatitude Theodore II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa of the Greek Orthodox Church. The visit included discussions on various topics of mutual interest.

In his welcoming remarks, Archimandrite Alazraei emphasized the strong support of the Egyptian state for the Patriarchate’s work, expressing gratitude to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for his generous donation of a plot of land in the New Administrative Capital. This land will be used for the construction of St. John the Merciful Church, as well as a cultural center symbolizing the deep friendship and love between the Greek, Egyptian, and Cypriot peoples.

Archimandrite Alazraei also spoke to the distinguished guests about the Patriarchate’s services in the health sector and its plans for projects in several African countries, including the construction of hospitals and health centers. These initiatives will focus on training specialized medical and nursing staff to provide healthcare services to their communities.

The ministers expressed their great joy in visiting the monastery. Before concluding, they conveyed their heartfelt thanks, through the monastery’s head, to His Beatitude Theodore II for his exceptional spiritual and humanitarian efforts, wishing him many more years of health and blessings. They also thanked the head of the monastery for the warm and gracious reception.

Source:

OCP News Service