The Ecumenical Patriarch called on the Slav-speaking faithful from Attaleia to remain united around their shepherd, Metropolitan of Pisidia, and the new Bishop of Evdokia, whom he ordained on Sunday. The Ecumenical Patriarch hoped that love and peace would be restored in the relations between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of Russia.
In particular, the Ecumenical Patriarch ordained the newly elected Ambrosios as Bishop of Evdokia.
The Ecumenical Patriarch addressed Bishop Ambrosios, stressing that the Great Church was particularly pleased for his well-deserved promotion. Bartholomew added that the Bishop was then called to serve the Metropolis of Pisidia and its faithful as Assistant Bishop to Metropolitan Sotirios of Pisidia.
“You should follow the shining example of your Metropolitan. His spirituality and zeal must be your source of inspiration. Try to make His light shine in the spirit and the heart of the people, by implanting in them the yearning for eternity.”
After the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Sotirios of Pisidia said that it was a special day because 100 years ago a very important figure for the Church, Bishop Meletios of Patara, was installed in Attaleia as Assistant Bishop.
“You shall stay united around your Metropolitan”
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew gave the bishop’s crosier, and spoke to the Slav-speaking faithful who live in Attaleia, and are faithful in the Metropolis of Pisidia.
“It is a historic day for the community of Attaleia and the wider region. My visit today coincides with an unfortunate situation in the Orthodox world in general, and in particular the relations between the Mother Church of Constantinople and its daughter, the Church of Russia. Unfortunately, the Sister Church of Russia wanted to break communion with us, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, to show its disagreement with the issue of the autocephaly status of the Church of Ukraine. We did not respond. We did not sever communion ties with the Church of Russia, since the Church is daughter of Constantinople. We will always love her, no matter what happens, and today, as you all heard, I commemorated Patriarch Kirill. It is both a temptation and difficulty that affects all of us. However, we can overcome those hardships through common prayer.
Unfortunately, the Church of Russia does not facilitate the settlement of the disagreement. On the contrary, it creates other additional problems by sending priests to officiate uncanonically in various areas of Turkey. The same situation also arises in your own area. In Belek there is a priest from the Church of Russia who officiates the Divine Liturgy while everybody knows that Turkey is a canonical territory of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,” the Ecumenical Patriarch said.
“I urge you to stay united around your Metropolitan Sotirios and the new Bishop, Ambrosios, and listen to their advice. What I ask of you, as your Patriarch, is to have unity and discipline in your Bishop,” said the Ecumenical Patriarch.
