THE FEAST OF THEOPHANY AT THE PATRIARCHATE OF ALEXANDRIA
On 6 January 2014, the day on which the Orthodox Church celebrates Holy Theophany, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, officiated at Orthros (Matins) and conducted the festal Divine Liturgy and the Service of the Great Blessing of Waters at the Holy Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Alexandria, con-celebrating with His Grace Meletios Bishop of Naukratis, Hegumen of the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of St Savvas in Alexandria.
Present at the worship gathering were His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece to Egypt Mr. Christodoulos Lazaris, His Excellency the Ambassador of the European Union to Egypt Mr. James Moran, the Consul General of Greece in Alexandria Mr. Christos Kapodistrias, representatives of various Hellenic societies and associations of the Great City as well as many Christians.
Immediately thereafter His Beatitude the Patriarch welcome officially in the Throne Room of the Patriarchal Mansion His Excellency the Governor of Alexandria General Tarek El Mahdi, the Director General of the Police General Amin Ez El Din, the Director General of Security General Nader el Genendi, as well as a large group of high-ranking staff and officers of the country, who paid their customary festal wishes to His Beatitude for the New Year.
In the afternoon His Beatitude conducted the Sanctification of the Waters at the Hellenic Naval Club of Alexandria, in the presence of the above-named Official authorities, in adverse unparalleled weather conditions. Despite this, pupils from the Hellenic Schools in the city dived into the freezing waters of the eastern harbor in Alexandria, to bring up the Precious Cross, to whom His Beatitude then gave his blessing as well as precious commemorative gifts. The Honourable Chairman of the Naval Club, Mr. Edmond Kasimatis, then hosted a lunch in honour of the Patriarch, the officials and the entire community.
