H.H. Pope Tawadros II prayed the prayers of the New Year 2026 at the Cathedral of Saint Mark in Alexandria.

The prayers began with Midnight Praises, followed by Kiahk praises which included words delivered by the two General Bishops overseeing the pastoral sectors of Alexandria:
H.G. Bishop Pavly, who spoke about pain and joy through verse 15 of Psalm 90: “Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us, the years in which we have seen evil.”
And His Grace Bishop Hermina, who reflected on the verse, “The end of a thing is better than its beginning” (Ecclesiastes 7:8), speaking about continually renewed beginnings without despair.

Following the conclusion of the praises, His Holiness delivered a message in which he began by extending greetings for the start of the new year 2026. He noted that celebrating the New Year within the Church—the Ark of Salvation—as we receive a new year from the hand of God, is a beautiful tradition in our Church, where we welcome it with hymns, praises, and music.

Pope Tawadros chose the Epistle of Jude as the subject of his meditation, as it is the 26th book of the New Testament.

He spoke on verse 21 of this epistle, which consists of a single chapter: “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” He pointed out that this verse reveals two aspects: one pertaining to the human person—keeping oneself in the love of God—and the other pertaining to God—His mercy that leads to eternal life. His Holiness outlined the ways by which a person keeps himself in the love of God:

1. The Love of Thanksgiving: through continual gratitude and contentment in all things, by which God abundantly pours His blessings upon the person.
2. The Love of Truth: avoiding lies, falsehood, hypocrisy, and deception. God is Truth itself, and a true Christian always says: “believe me.”
3. The Love of Uprightness: “Renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Uprightness is righteous conduct, and the word “Orthodox” means “straight thinking.”
4. The Love of Goodness: practicing goodness daily—through encouraging words, good conduct, acts of help, smiling, and effort. Christ Himself “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (Acts 10:38).
5. The Love of Others: loving every person without regard to anything else, for all are the creation of God’s hands. Beware of conflict, for life is exceedingly short.

After concluding his message, Pope Tawadros offered profound prayers for the peace of the world and for tranquility to prevail everywhere.

The Divine Liturgy for the first day of the New Year then commenced, and after the Prayer of Reconciliation, His Holiness completed the rite of ordination of a full deacon (Diakon) named Girgis.

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