HH Pope Tawadros II and his accompanying delegation greet Patriarch Theodoros II, Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, for Christmas

His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, greeted His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch, for Christmas, which falls today according to the Julian (western)calendar.

This came during the visit of His Holiness on Monday, December 25, 2017, to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate residence in Hamzawi Street Al-Azhar.
The delegation accompanying His Holiness the Pope included Their Eminences Bishop Marcos, Bishop of Shubra El Kheima, Bishop Daniel, Bishop of Maadi, Bishop Ermia, General Bishop, Fr. Sergius Sergius, Under-Secretary General of the Patriarchate in Cairo, Fr. Angelos Isaac and Fr. Amonius Adel, Secretary of the Pope, Fr. Boulos Halim, Spokesman of the Church and Professor Gerges Saleh Honorary Secretary of the Middle East Churches Council.

Speech of Patriarch Theodoros II, Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox … I carry a message of peace and greetings of President Putin, the Ecumenical Patriarch and Patriarch Kyrl
“Dear brother and dear friend, today a large part of my prayer in the Mass I dedicated for you, I look for the Crucified Christ and tell him to give His Holiness Pope Tawadros II health and lifetime.

Thank you for greeting us. You bear the Coptic Orthodox Church in the world, and you support our Church as we are one family and one faith.
From the time I was in Istanbul and Russia, Patriarch Kyrl and Patriarch Bartholomew send you their love and salutation and they all admire the nobility of your holiness.

During a meeting with President Putin, he asked to deliver his salutation to your holiness and told me it was great that two great patriarchs have the same name Theodoros.

Our presence together gives a message of love and peace to the whole world, especially the Middle East, where there are conflicts and wars, and I want you to know that any terrorist attack occur, our whole heart is with you and we weep for all human being in our prayers and we work for peace.

When I meet people from the Coptic Church in Africa I find them helping me
Pope Theodoros gave HH Pope Tawadros a Chalice, from Russia, hoping that we would gather on one Eucharist, and gave him his personal rosary.

Pope Theodoros said, in response to the gift presented by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, that he would use it and illuminate it in his own office. I assure you that I am not afraid because your Holiness prayer is on my side.