Patriarch of Alexandria held official meeting with the President of the Republic of Cyprus

An official and cordial meeting took place today, June 24, at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia between Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa and the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides.

During the meeting, the Patriarch informed the President about the wide-ranging, multifaceted, and multi-level missionary work of the Patriarchate across the African continent – spiritual, philanthropic, medical, and educational – which stands as a beacon of love, hope, and human dignity for the suffering peoples of Africa.

The Patriarch expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Cyprus for its steadfast and valuable support of the Patriarchate’s missionary efforts, and especially to the President himself, for his personal sensitivity and tangible love for Orthodox missions.

As part of efforts to strengthen cooperation, it was decided that a medical team from the Office of the President of Cyprus, in coordination with the Patriarchate of Alexandria, will be dispatched to support the Patriarchate’s charitable and medical initiatives in various parts of Africa, where healthcare needs are urgent and significant.

The Patriarch officially invited the President to attend the upcoming inauguration of the Grand Center currently under construction in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, on land generously granted by the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Mr. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The Center will be named the “Friendship Center of the Peoples of Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt”, serving as a living symbol of unity, peace, and intercultural cooperation among the three nations.

During the meeting, the Patriarch also reaffirmed the unwavering stance of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in support of a peaceful and just resolution to the Cyprus issue. He expressed his sincere hope that a fair and sustainable solution will be found as soon as possible – one that respects human rights and international law, and ensures the unity and security of the Cypriot people.

At the same time, the Patriarch did not hide his deep concern about the escalating tensions in the Middle East, emphatically stressing that peace is the only realistic and God-given path to resolving every conflict and misunderstanding among nations. He offered fervent prayers for reconciliation and peaceful coexistence among the peoples of the region.

On behalf of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, who has maintained a longstanding friendship with the Patriarch since his tenure at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, deep respect and gratitude were expressed for the Patriarchate’s invaluable contribution in Africa and globally. The President reiterated the Republic of Cyprus’s steadfast support for the work of the Patriarchate and praised the role of Orthodox missions in promoting humanitarianism, solidarity, and global peace.

The Patriarch was accompanied on his official visit by Bishop Nikodimos of Nitria, Exarch of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Cyprus, and Archimandrite Athinodoros Papaevrypiadis.

The meeting was sealed in a spirit of mutual respect and fraternal cooperation, reflecting the deep and enduring relationship of trust between the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Republic of Cyprus.