Theophany is one of the greatest feasts of Christianity, commemorating the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the River Jordan by Saint John the Forerunner and Baptist.
In Alexandria, the festive atmosphere of the Feast of Lights, conceptually synonymous with Theophany, has always inspired feelings of optimism, joy, and hope among the Orthodox faithful of the diaspora, as it constitutes, throughout the Christian centuries, the third and final feast of the Holy Twelve Days, which begin with Christmas.
As for the name of this feast day, it derives from the manifestation of the three Persons of the Holy Trinity, which, according to the Scriptures, took place at the Baptism of Jesus.
Thus, at the Holy Monastery of Saint Sabbas the Sanctified Monastery, filled with Alexandrian faithful and pilgrims, the sacred service was presided over by His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa. His presence created a familiar and comforting atmosphere for the worshippers, many of whom had travelled from distant countries because of their Orthodox faith and now beheld him before them.
They were also deeply moved that the Hierarch of the missionary Church of much-suffering Africa, during the Divine Liturgy at which he officiated, sprinkled their heads with the sanctified water and bestowed his blessing upon them.
Concelebrating with the Patriarch were His Eminence Metropolitan Germanos of Tamiathis; His Grace Bishop Damaskinos of Mareotis and Patriarchal Vicar; and Archimandrites Athanasios and Markos. Praying together were Archimandrite Epiphanios and the Arabic-speaking Protopresbyter Fr Samy.
The day also possessed a special institutional and civic distinction, as the following were present: the Ambassador of Greece to Egypt, Mr Nikolaos Papageorgiou; the Ambassador of Cyprus to Egypt, Ms Poly Ioannou; the Consul General of Greece in Alexandria, Mr Ioannis Pyrgakis; the President of the Greek Community of Alexandria, Mr Andreas Vafeiadis; the Liaison Officer of the Hellenic Navy in Alexandria, Captain Chrysostomos Ragkos; the President of ENOA and of Ptolemy I, Ms Lilika Thlivitou; the President of the Hellenic Lyceum of Alexandria, Ms Aliki Antoniou; educators, staff of the Consulate General, members of the Greek community, and many visitors.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, all approached their Patriarch to embrace him and receive his blessing. He, in turn, offered them his good wishes and expressed his love to those who for so many years have supported, through their presence, the holy churches of Orthodoxy in Alexandria and beyond. As is customary, everyone then moved to the courtyard of the Holy Monastery, where coffee and sweets were offered.
Small gatherings of Alexandrians formed, and conversations flowed freely, marked by goodwill, courtesy, and the exchange of festive greetings and wishes of “Many Years.”
Subsequently, the institutional representatives ascended to the Throne Hall, where His Beatitude awaited the Governor of Alexandria and his distinguished entourage.
Source: ekalexandria.org / Grigoris Chaliakopoulos
