The Patriarchal Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary was performed today, August 15, at the historic Patriarchal and Stavropegian Monastery of Panagia Sumela in Trabzon.
After the completion of the extensive restoration work, it is the first time that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will preside over the Divine Liturgy there.
Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon and Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia concelebrate the Divine Liturgy.
Last year the Divine Liturgy was performed by Metropolitans Stephanos of Kallioupolis and Madytos, Maximos of Sylivria, and Ioannis of Zambia (hierarch of the Patriarchate of Alexandria).