His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa visited Port Said on Wednesday morning, 17 July 2024, in order to witness firsthand the completion of the extensive renovation of the Holy Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour.
Ms. Chrysanthi Skoufaridou, Vice President of the Hellenic Community of Cairo and Head of the “Churches and Cemeteries” Department, received the Patriarch early in the morning, along with the Community Commissioner and Head of the “Technical and Maintenance” Department, Mr. Stelios Chalkias.
Ms. Skoufaridou and Mr. Chalkias showed the Patriarch of Alexandria around the church for more than an hour, offering his creative suggestions on the points where his ecclesiastical experience and knowledge were needed.
His Beatitude expressed his sincere satisfaction and heartfelt “bravo” to Ms. Chrysanthi Skoufaridou for her tireless care and supervision of the project all this time, to Mr. Stelios Chalkias for the exemplary execution of the project, and a big “thank you” to the President of the Hellenic Community of Cairo, Mr. Christos Kavalis, for the always cordial relationship that the Cairo Community maintains with the Patriarchate of Alexandria in all areas.
Ms. Skoufaridou also informed the Patriarch about the progress of the works already carried out at the Church of Saint Catherine in Suez and thanked His Eminence Metropolitan Savvas of Nubia, for his support of all the efforts. She also expressed her gratitude to the two Patriarchal Commissioners of Cairo and Alexandria: His Eminence Metropolitan Nikodimos of Memphis, and His Eminence Metropolitan Narcissus of Pelusium, for their prompt and effective response in addressing the concerns of the local community regarding the change in the exterior colour of the church.
His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodoros, together with Father Antonios, then conducted a memorial service for Mrs. Irene Philipou, an active and eminent Greek of the Port Said community, who recently passed away, in the presence of her son, Kamel Petrou, who received the Patriarch’s blessing and consoling words.
The last stop of the day was the well-known restaurant “Kastan”, where the owners warmly welcomed the Patriarch, and those present enjoyed the magnificent view of the Mediterranean and the delicious seafood appetisers offered to all by the President of the Arab-speaking Christians of Port Said, Salama Aisa.
Photo: Ahmed Araby