His Holiness Pope Tawadros II ushered in the New Year with midnight prayers at the Cathedral of St. Mark in Alexandria. The service, which began with the midnight prayer, included a special sermons by Bishops Pavly, Ilarion, and Hermina.
In his New Year’s message, Pope Tawadros emphasized three key themes for the coming year, derived from the biblical verse “I will set My eyes on them for good” (Jeremiah 24:6):
1. Tranquility: Encouraging individuals to find peace amidst the prevalent negativity and discussing God’s care for all creatures.
2. Protection: Emphasizing God’s watchful care over us and the importance of staying close to God for His protection.
3. For Good: Recognizing God’s orchestration of events for our benefit, urging continuous gratitude and contentment.
Pope Tawadros highlighted the significance of the numerical representation of the year 2024, symbolizing love and inclusivity.
The service concluded with a special prayer for global peace and tranquility, followed by the Divine Liturgy for the beginning of the new year 2024.