Theodoros II, Greek Orthodox Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa

On September 24, 2023 Theodoros II, the same man who welcomed Vassula in 2008 met with Vassula, and this time he went out of his way even more.

In the TLIG Pilgrimage report Vassula related,

«The highlight of the pilgrimage was meeting the Greek Orthodox Patriarch. He dropped all his schedule and travelled 3 hours to come to Cairo from Alexandria. He was more than delighted to meet all of us, tolling the bells and singing Christ is Risen.»

Let that sink in. The sitting Pope and Patriarch of the second-ranking see in world Orthodoxy — the successor of St. Mark — cancelled his entire schedule and drove three hours from Alexandria to Cairo to meet Vassula and 500 pilgrims at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Monastery in Old Cairo. He had the bells rung. He led us in singing Christos Anesti (Christ is Risen) in Greek. This was not a grudging courtesy call. This was an enthusiastic, public and liturgical welcome on Orthodox holy ground.

Who made it happen? Metropolitan Seraphim Kykkotis of Zimbabwe (under the Patriarchate of Alexandria) personally phoned Theodoros II to tell him the TLIG group was in Egypt and what their intentions were. That’s a sitting metropolitan acting as an intermediary to bring the Patriarch to Vassula.

Pope Tawadros II, Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria

Later on that same day Vassula and 80 clergy members from 22 church denominations met with Pope Tawadros II, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, which is the largest Christian body in the Middle East. Numbering approximately 15-20 million Christian faithful.

As shared in our pilgrimage report, «Vassula and the 80 clergy members met with His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Head of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Cairo. Pope Tawadros introduced the listeners to the Coptic Church and provided insights into its history and tradition. Vassula acquainted the Pope to the activities and mission of True Life in God, which primarily focuses on promoting unity, peace, harmony and reconciliation among all people. Upon their departure, Pope Tawadros II gave to Vassula and all the clergy a commemorative gift: an icon of the Virgin Mary with the Holy Family.»

This was facilitated by Bishop Damian – a Coptic Orthodox bishop who made the meeting possible. Pope Tawadros greeted each of the 80 clergy individually, gave them gifts, and received Vassula’s presentation about TLIG’s mission.

How important is this? Pope Tawadros II leads the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. Although in 451 AD the Coptic Church became independent at the Council of Chalcedon, in recent decades, theological dialogue between Eastern and Oriental Orthodox has made real progress, and Tawadros is universally respected. It was of great importance when the Coptic Pope received Vassula warmly, gave her an icon of the Virgin Mary, and met with the 80 clergy along with her.

Metropolitan Seraphim Kykkotis of Zimbabwe

Metropolitan Seraphim made the Theodoros II meeting happen. A sitting Greek Orthodox metropolitan in good standing, serving under Alexandria, personally phoned his patriarch to arrange the encounter.

Bishop Damian (Coptic Orthodox)

Bishop Damian is the Coptic bishop who arranged the Tawadros II meeting.

The Scale: 500 Pilgrims from 63 Countries, 80 Clergy from 22 Denominations

This wasn’t a private audience. It was a massive, public and inter-religious pilgrimage. Muslim clergy and Buddhist representatives were present alongside the Christians. The whole thing had the character of a vertiable ecumenical movement.

The Full Hierarchy Contact List for September 2023

It appears that this encounter in Egypt may potentially have implications towards bridging the gap between the Orthodox with the True life in God mission and messages. In September 2023 — just one year before Vassula’s passing – both the Pope of Greek Orthodox Alexandria and the Pope of Coptic Orthodox Alexandria opened their doors to her.

Two patriarchs of Alexandria — one Eastern Orthodox, one Oriental Orthodox — have now publicly embraced Vassula’s mission. They didn’t issue theological decrees, but they did something more Orthodox: they prayed with Vassula, blessed her and treated her as a sister in Christ.

Theodoros II promised Vassula in 2008: «Alexandria’s and the Patriarchate’s doors will always be open to you.» He kept his word as fifteen years later he would have the bells of St. George’s ringing for her.