Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece urged the new Metropolitan of Limnos and Saint Efstratios to love and cooperate with the people of the local Church.
The ordination of the new Metropolitan of Limnos took place this morning at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens by the Archbishop in the presence of several priests, clergy and laypeople attended.
In his speech, the Metropolitan of Limnos emphasized that “The gift of the high archpriesthood, when offered by the Church, aims only at the salvation of the whole and not at the sacrifice of the members of the ecclesiastical body for the sake of one.
It is the expression of responsibility towards all when the Hierarchy of the Church granted me, through Your Beatitude.
Therefore, being deeply conscious of this responsibility, I assure my Primate, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, of my dedication and respect for his great anticipation, that the Phanar will remain the imperishable flame in the Lantern of Orthodoxy, that still holds good and, cum Deo, will hold good for many years.
Then the Archbishop referred to the historic Metropolis of Limnos and its congregation, underling the great responsibilities and urging the new Metropolitan to love and serve this blessed people. “The role of the archpriest is not only functional. Throughout Greece, archpriests are not only ministers to the Lord but also social workers.”
Elsewhere in his speech, the Archbishop emphasised that “the bishop, whatever difficulty he might face, is obliged to cooperate with anyone who is by his side. Disunity is not as fruitful as cooperation.”
He said that the people of Limnos was good and blessed and called on the new Metropolitan to meet and love and work with all of them so that his path could be vigorous within the Church.
