On 10th May 2022 His Beatitude Theodoros II Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, at the Patriarchal Church of St Nicholas in the coastal district of Ibrahimia in Alexandria on the occasion of the translation of the holy relic of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia.
After the Divine Liturgy His Beatitude officiated during the Patriarchal Order of the enthronement ceremony of His Eminence Panteleimon Metropolitan of Naucratis formerly of Brazzaville and Gabon, now Chief Secretary and Member of the Holy Synod.
Addressing the enthroned Metropolitan, His Beatitude referred to his productive ministry in the Ancient Church of St. Mark for sixteen (16) consecutive years from 2006 until today, of which the first seven in the Alexandrian Patriarchal See and the next nine in the Missionary field in Africa. He emphasized that “few hierarchs in the history of the Throne were tested and their hearts wounded by human wickedness and envy as much as yours was in the performance of your pastoral duties in equatorial Africa. But this ordeal brought you recognition, my dear son. As gold in the crucible you were tested, but as the Three Children in the fiery furnace you glorified the Name of the Triune God, always armed with obedience to the Church, humility and devotion to duty”. He also mentioned that the historic Holy Church of St. Nicholas of Ibrahimia, whose consecration was inaugurated exactly one year ago, on May 10, 2021, after the completion of its renovation work under the tireless supervision of the distinguished and humble Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria, His Eminence Narcissus then of Naucratis, now Metropolitan of Pelusium, will henceforth be the See of the Holy Metropolis of Naucratis in the broader region of eastern Alexandria.
In conclusion he invoked the intercessions of the All Holy Virgin of Tinos and the prayer of the late blessed Metropolitan Dorotheos I (Stekas) of Syros who ordained His Eminence Metropolitan Panteleimon as Deacon and Priest, as well as that of his parents Andreas and Evangelia who live in Tinos, that they may accompany the Metropolitan of Naucratis in his new ministry beside the Patriarch, while he also expressed gratitude to His Eminence Dorotheos II, Metropolitan of Syros-Tinos, beside whom the His Eminence Panteleimon served as Preacher and Director of Services of the Holy Metropolis of Syros, for his ceaseless support of the Patriarchate.
In his reply His Eminence referred to the multiple benefits he received from the His Beatitude and the Patriarchate, to his turbulent pastoral ministry at the Holy Metropolis of Brazzaville and the experience gained from it, and emphasized the power of prayer and forgiving love as a response to any form of difficulty from wherever it comes and expressed his eternal gratitude and devotion to the Throne of St. Mark and his spiritual Father and Benefactor, “the always smiling, discreet and positive in thought and attitude of life Patriarch Theodoros, who knows perfectly well to spread only joy with his every action”.
Present at the enthronement of His Eminence the Metropolitan of Naucratis, were His Eminence Narcissus Metropolitan of Pelusium, Patriarchal Vicar of Alexandria, His Grace Germanos Bishop of Tamiathus and Abott of the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of the Venerable Savvas of Alexandria and His Grace Nicodemus Bishop of Nilopoli, Director of the Private patriarchal Office, clergy of the Patriarchal Court and the Archdiocese of Alexandria, representatives of community officials and others.