The great Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos was celebrated on the island of Imbros in an atmosphere of profound reverence and deep emotion.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Archbishop Ioannis, Primate of the Church of Albania, at the festal church in the mountainous village of Agridia. They were joined by Metropolitans Meliton of Philadelphia and Chrysostomos of Myra.
Among those in attendance were Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros and Tenedos; members of the clergy; Athanasios Martinos, President of the Brotherhood of Archons Offikialioi of the Great Church of Christ “Panagia Pammakaristos” and Ecumenical Grand Benefactor; the Brotherhood’s Vice-President, Georgios Prokopiou; and numerous other Archons.
Also present were the Mayor of Nea Smyrni, Georgios Koutelakis, the leadership and members of the boards of the Imbrian associations of Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as many of the Patriarch’s compatriots and friends of Imbros.
The sermon was delivered by Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia. At the conclusion of the service, the holy Icon of the Panagia was carried in procession through the streets of the picturesque village.
Following the Divine Liturgy, traditional Imbrian refreshments were offered in Agridia’s village square. Young men and women from the Archdiocese of Ohrid sang and danced in honour of the Ecumenical Patriarch and the pilgrims.
Later that afternoon, the Ecumenical Patriarch prayerfully attended the post-feast Vespers service presided over by Archbishop Ioannis of Albania at the festal Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in the village of Glyky.
Glyky was the birthplace of the late Hieromonk Bartholomew Koutloumousianos, a prominent figure in Greek letters and a Teacher of the Nation. It was in his honour that the Ecumenical Patriarch received the name Bartholomew at his ordination.
On the eve of the feast, the Ecumenical Patriarch presided over Vespers at the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in his native village of Agioi Theodoroi. After the dismissal, he addressed his compatriots with deeply moving words.
Photos: Nikos Papachristou / Ecumenical Patriarchate
