Preaching on this Sunday extract and teaching the small flock of Alexandria in the Church of the centuries-old Patriarchal Monastery of Saint Savvas the Sanctified of Alexandria on Sunday, July 17, 2022, during the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy served by His Grace the Venerable Germanos, Bishop of Tamiathus Mr. Germanos, Head of the Monastery.
From 318 AD this Monastery is the only Christian site to which the centuries bowed even during the Arab conquest of Egypt. This hallowed place has never ceased to function and sanctify generations upon generations of Christians who now rest in the arms of Almighty God.
On this holy Altar – of the church still supported by the pharaonic columns with the lotuses on top of them – Saint John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria, once officiated here, Saint Nektarios, Bishop of Pentapolis of Libya, was once ordained here, the marble pillar on which the head of the Great Martyr St Catherine was cut off, on this Holy Altar is still placed the Holy Chalice, in which the Synodal hierarchs prayerfully cast their vote to elect each Archbishop, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, here the “little flock” (Apostle Luke) faithfully continues the Apostolic steps of the first Christian centuries with unshakable faith in God’s providence and in His future plans for the coming generations…