In the afternoon on the 5th Sunday of Lent, 2 April 2023, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew officiated at the Holy Church of the Holy Trinity, Stavrodromi, during the final Lenten Vespers, in which the sacred hymns of the service were chanted by the Choir of the Association Chanters of Peran.
The Divine word was preached by Bishop Paisios of Xanthoupolis.
Afterwards, the Ecumenical Patriarch introduced with warm words, Archbishop Makarios of Australia, who is present in Constantinople at the moment, likewise asked the Archbishop to address words of spiritual edification to the large congregation.
Responding to the invitation to address the congregation, Archbishop Makarios first thanked the Ecumenical Patriarch for his warm paternal words, noting among other things that “once again we have understood what ‘Patriarch Bartholomew’ means, a Patriarch who is full of love and full of affection and loving care”.
The Archbishop of Australia then referred to the great responsibility that Orthodox Christians have to preserve and transmit to future generations the witness of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. “Let us not be lukewarm regarding the rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Let us not be lukewarm when it comes to defending the Church,” His Eminence urged the congregation.
Here is the entire vespers service, including the Ecumenical Patriarch’s address and the Archbishop of Australia’s address:
