THE FEAST OF ST GEORGE THE GREAT MARTYR IN ACCRA – PTOLEMAIS

On Saturday, the 25^th of April/8^th of May 2015, the Patriarchate observed the feast of St George the Trophy-Bearer at the Monastery dedicated to his name in the city of Accra- Ancient Ptolemais of Northern Israel.

The Accra-Ptolemais Bishopric includes twelve Greek Orthodox Arab-speaking Communities.

Patriarch Theophilos was welcomed to the city by the Hegoumen, Archimandrite Philotheos, the priests of Accra and adjacent Communities, and the Boy Scouts.

The Patriarch officiated at the feast with co-officiating Hierarchs, Archimandrite Chrysostomos of the Monastery of Kana, Galilee, priests of the Accra Communities, Archdeacon Evlogios, and Deacon Markos. The choir sang in Arabic in the presence of Greece’s Military Attaché to Jerusalem, the Greek Consul-General with his wife, and a great crowd.

During Communion, the Patriarch preached the Word of God in Greek and Arabic.

The Divine Liturgy was followed by procession thrice around the Church, which included a memorial service for the repose of the souls of Fathers buried there, and at the Tomb of St George the New Martyr of Cyprus, who died in the 19^th c. in the years of the Ottoman Empire.

At the reception that followed mass, addresses were made by the President of the Community Council of Accra, the Sheikh of Accra, the Vice-Mayor of Accra, the Sheikh of Baane, the representatives of Bahai, of the Maronites, and of the Police.

At noon, Archimandrite Philotheos hosted guests to lunch.

Before leaving the city, His Beatitude offered His condolences to the Ms Maria Triantafyllidou, on the death of her mother.

From the Secretariat-General

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