In a joyful Resurrection atmosphere and with deep reverence, on the Sunday of Thomas, 23 April 2023, the Venerable Patriarchal Church celebrated its patron, Saint George the Great Martyr and Trophy Bearer.
The Divine Liturgy was presided over by Metropolitan Theoleptos of Iconium, and Metropolitan Andreas of Forty Churches, and Metropolitan Ioakeim of Bursa.
During the Divine Liturgy, the blessing of the five loaves (Artoklasia) was performed for the beloved children of the Holy Great Church of Christ, in America, as well as all over the world.
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was present also in prayer from the Holy Altar, while immediately after the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, he distributed red Paschal eggs to the crowded congregation.
Also present for the Patriarchal Feast Day were: Metropolitan Apostolos of Miletus, Metropolitan Irinaios of Myriophytos and Peristasis and Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Myra, Bishop Adrianos of Halicarnassus and Bishop Paisios of Xanthoupolis. Also present were Georgia Soultanopoulou, Consul General of Greece in the City, who was celebrating her name day, as well as the Consuls General of Ukraine Roman Nedilskyi, of Moldova Sergiu Gurduza, of Montenegro Branislav Karadzic and of North Macedonia Aktan Ago, the heads of the Consulates General of Romania Lucian Cringasu and of Georgia Zaza Nadiradze, and the Consul of Bulgaria Krasimir Tsenovski, Archon Officials and faithful from Constantinople and abroad.
Afterwards, in the Throne Room, the Ecumenical Patriarch, in his speech, welcomed the Diplomats and the other attendees and, among others, he wished that the diabolical war in Ukraine would soon end and that peace would prevail, while he once again expressed his support for the earthquake victims of southeastern Turkey and Syria.
At noon, the Ecumenical Patriarch invited the present Consuls General and representatives of the Consulates General to sit down at the celebratory Paschal table set up in the courtyard of the Patriarchate.
Photos: Nikos Papachristou / Ecumenical Patriarchate
