On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, on the occasion of the commemoration of the Holy Glorious Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas, which also marks the name day of the Ecumenical Patriarch, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided at the Divine Liturgy celebrated in the Patriarchal Church, in accordance with tradition, by the Grand Protosyncellus, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Grigorios.
Concelebrating with the Ecumenical Patriarch were the following hierarchs: Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, Elder Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi, Elder Metropolitan Demetrios of the Princes’ Islands, Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia, Metropolitan Seraphim of Sebasteia, Metropolitan Damaskinos of Didymoteicho, Soufli, and Orestiada, Metropolitan Panteleimon of Xanthi, Metropolitan Irenaios of Myriophyton and Peristasis, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Myra, Metropolitan Theodoritos of Laodicea, Metropolitan Theoleptos of Iconium, Metropolitan Kyrillos of Rhodes, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras, Archbishop Eugenios of Crete, Metropolitan Kyrillos of Krini, Metropolitan Nathanael of Kos and Nisyros, Metropolitan Stefanos of Kallioupolis and Madytos, Metropolitan Athenagoras of Kydoniai, Metropolitan Panteleimon of Maroneia and Komotini, Metropolitan Job of Pisidia, Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia, Metropolitan Maximos of Ioannina, Metropolitan Maximos of Sylivria, Metropolitan Gerasimos of Petra and Hersonissos, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Symi, Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymnon and Avlopotamos, Metropolitan Andreas of Forty Churches, Metropolitan Joachim of Bursa, and Metropolitan Theodoros of Seleucia.
In attendance were Archimandrite Georgios Christodoulou, Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus, representing the Archbishop of Cyprus; also present were Metropolitan Joseph of Buenos Aires, Bishops Adrianos of Halicarnassus, Ambrosios of Eudokiados, Benjamin of Tralleis, and Paisios of Xanthoupolis, as well as Bishop Massimiliano Palinuro, representative of the Roman Catholic community in Constantinople. Monks and nuns, Archons Offikialioi of the Ecumenical Throne – led by Mr. Konstantinos Delikostantis, Archon Didaskalos tou Genous and Secretary-General of the Brotherhood “Panagia Pammakaristos” – were also present, along with H.E. Mr. Konstantinos Koutras, Consul General of Greece in Constantinople, Mr. Roman Nedilskyi, Consul General of Ukraine, students and teachers from the City’s Greek schools, and a multitude of faithful.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, on behalf of the revered Hierarchy of the Ecumenical Throne, Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon offered greetings to the Ecumenical Patriarch.
In his address, the Ecumenical Patriarch thanked all the Hierarchs for their presence and stated: “This feast is above all a time to glorify the God of love for His saving gifts. ‘The essence of a feast is the remembrance of God,’ writes Gregory the Theologian (Oration 39, On the Holy Lights, PG 36, 345). It is also an experience of life as communion – a joyful and gracious encounter, face to face, with our brothers. As we celebrate, we celebrate together. A joyless life does not accord with the tradition of our faith, for which life is relationship – since we are beings created in the image of the Triune God, who, as the late Metropolitan John of Pergamon wrote, is ‘the most anti-individualistic, the most relational God – a God of communion’ (Kosmou Lytron, Megara 2014, p. 209). Saint Nicholas Cabasilas calls God a ‘common good’; the Church is a ‘communion of relationships’ and a ‘communion of deification.’ In the Church, freedom is shared, obedience is shared, and salvation is shared. Life in Christ is a ‘culture of personhood and solidarity.’ Our salvation presupposes the salvation of the other – our neighbor, the entire world – and the world’s transformation. This lies at the heart of our faith (N. Berdyaev, The Divine and the Human, Thessaloniki 1982, p. 279).”
The Ecumenical Patriarch then referred to key events of the past year: “The year that has passed since our previous gathering here has been full of divine blessings and gifts from the omnipotent, all-seeing, and all-merciful God, who alone has performed and continues to perform wonders with us. We have ministered to the Mother Church, to her faithful children both in this City of Cities and throughout the Lord’s domain, striving – with divine aid – to safeguard the most precious inheritance we have received from our Fathers, remaining unwaveringly faithful to the doctrinal and canonical tradition of the Great Church of Christ, always seeking to highlight her offering and witness. We glorify the God of love who has deemed us worthy to solemnly celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council held in Nicaea. We rejoice that together with the successor of the late Pope Francis of Rome – Pope Leo XIV – we will travel to Nicaea to commemorate this historic anniversary. The new Pope will also visit the See of the Church of Constantinople on its patronal feast day. We pray and labor that the unity of our Churches may be continually renewed, for the glory of God and the increase of divine knowledge.”
“A source of joy and good hope is also the progress being made on the vital issue of the reopening of the Theological School of Halki. We eagerly await the coming of that great and glorious day of the Lord.”
The Patriarch then referred specifically to his recent visit to Munich, where he was honored by two Roman Catholic institutions. He noted that during the discussions held there: “There was widespread concern that today- 35 years after the pivotal geopolitical shift of 1989 and the hopeful expectations it brought – humanity faces man-made global climate catastrophe, ongoing economic crisis, war, violence, terrorism, dangerous geopolitical strategies, migration, and other great and intractable problems. The pressing need remains for social cohesion, solidarity, and peace. In light of all these, one question arises urgently: What must be the position and contribution of the Church and of religion?”
He continued: “It is certain that our Orthodox faith, in the face of such complex issues, does not permit pessimism. We hold with unshakable conviction that the future belongs to Christ, who is ‘the same yesterday and today and forever’ (Hebrews 13:8), and that His Church will remain through the ages as the witness of the grace that has come and the foretaste of the fullness and brilliance of the Kingdom to come – the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Church will remain a testimony ‘to the mighty acts of God and the doctrines of the Trinity.’ This faith that Christ governs all does not, of course, mean that we Christians may remain spectators of human affairs. The word of Christ to His people is abundantly clear: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers… You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden… You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
We are called to give a bold and constant witness to the hope that is within us. Clearly, the philosopher’s maxim “Live unnoticed” is not the proper response to God’s call. The Christian does not shut himself in, but steps forward dynamically into society and the world. As it has rightly been said, ‘We cannot journey toward God while turning our backs on our fellow human beings.’”
Concluding his address, the Patriarch thanked the Hierarchs and the faithful for their warm wishes and expressions of love, which give him strength to continue his ministry to the Church.
After the Divine Liturgy, the Ecumenical Patriarch received the greetings and festive gift of the esteemed Hierarchy of the Ecumenical Throne, as well as those of the clergy and lay members of the Patriarchal Court, led by the Grand Protosyncellus, who offered words of greeting to which the Patriarch responded with paternal affection.
He also received a delegation from the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Church of Crete, led by Archbishop Eugenios, who conveyed the heartfelt wishes of the Hierarchy, clergy, and faithful of this province of the Throne.
On the Eve of the Feast
On the eve of the feast, the Ecumenical Patriarch presided at Great Vespers, joined in prayer by a multitude of Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne, clergy, monastics, Archons Offikialioi, the Consuls General of Greece and Ukraine with their staff, and faithful from the City and abroad.
At the conclusion of Vespers, the Patriarch offered a Trisagion memorial service for the Teacher of the Nation, Hieromonk Bartholomew Koutloumousianos of Imbros (1772–1851).
Immediately afterward, a reception was held in the courtyard of the Patriarchate, during which His All-Holiness received the respects and congratulations of the large gathering of clergy and laity.
Later, in the Hall of the Panagia of the Patriarchal House, the official presentation took place of the program titled: “Model Interdisciplinary Development and Transfer of Expertise and Collaboration for the Restoration of Iconic Monuments and the Promotion of Christian Values in Dialogue with Society (‘To Evlogon’).”
The event was addressed by the Ecumenical Patriarch and, via recorded message, by Greece’s Minister of Development, Mr. Takis Theodorikakos. The program was presented by Emeritus Professor of the National Technical University of Athens, Ms. Antonia Moropoulou, and Archon Hieromnemon of the Ecumenical Throne and General Director of the Orthodox Academy of Crete, Mr. Konstantinos Zorbas.
Photo credit: Nikos Papachristou
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
