The Alexandrian Library opens its doors

Alexandrian Patriarchate – March 2017

On 22nd March 2017, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, welcomed to the Conference Centre of the Patriarchal Library within the Patriarchal Mansion, the Association of Alexandrian Scientists, who were visiting the Patriarchate for the first time.

Present at the event were the Consul General of Spain in Alexandria, Mr. Juan Manuel López, university professors, representatives of associations, organizations and institutes of the Great City.

Making a start, the Consul General of Greece Mr. Emmanuel Kakavelakis delivered an excellent speech entitled: “Philosophy and Christianity in Alexandria, 1st-6th century A.D. Reconciling the two traditions”, which aroused the interest of all in the audience.

At the end of the speech, His Beatitude the Patriarch in his greeting to those present, visibly emotional, welcomed the scientists expressing his gratitude and his joy for the start of the realization of his dreams regarding the promotion of the religious and culture heritage of the ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria to the world. He made reference to the two paths that the Patriarchate has travelled in its history. As he mentioned “…the first, the history of the past, through the great Fathers of the Church and the philosophers who lived in Alexandria. It is our glorious history, that is past yet always current, with a two-thousand year presence here in the hospitable land of Egypt. This epitome of our history you will experience as you are guided through the Museums and our Patriarchal Library. In here are treasures of global Hellenism which are exhibited in Alexandria, in our beloved Egypt. Here you will find both the essences of the wisdom of the Fathers of the Egyptian desert as well as Greek philosophical thought. These treasures are offered in this exhibition to contemporary humanity. I invite you also to become from today ambassadors of Greek Orthodox culture and of the love of the One God for mankind…

The second path, the modern one, is the mission and getting to know Person of the God-Man Christ, in the ends of the vast continent of Africa. It is a great and wonderful work, realized with God’s help and through the contribution made by you all. Especially for the children of Africa who are the hope of our continent, which is a common homeland for all of us…”.

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