On Sunday, July 6, 2025, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew attended the Divine Liturgy in a spirit of prayerful participation, during which Metropolitan Vasilios of Constantia and Ammochostos presided.
Among those present were Hierarchs Elder Emmanuel of Chalcedon, Eugenios of Crete, Gerasimos of Petra and Hersonissos, and Theodoros of Seleucia. Also attending were Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille and President of the French Catholic Bishops’ Conference, along with a delegation of clergy and lay pilgrims participating in the MED25 “Odyssey for Peace” initiative. Pilgrims from Nicosia, Cyprus, led by Fr. Dimitrios Makris, as well as a Ukrainian group led by Consul General Roman Nedilskyi, accompanied by women whose relatives are prisoners of war, were also in attendance, along with many faithful from Istanbul and abroad.
After the Liturgy, the Patriarch addressed the congregation, particularly the pilgrims from France, emphasizing the vital role of dialogue in resolving conflicts and building peace: “Dialogue is not an optional choice; it is a Gospel obligation. It is not a luxury reserved for theologians, but a Christian duty inscribed in the heart of our calling as baptized persons. How can we claim to love God, whom we do not see, if we do not love our brothers and sisters whom we do see?” (cf. 1 John 4:20)
He went on to reflect on the ongoing dialogue between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches: “For decades, we have engaged in authentic and courageous ecumenical dialogue, especially with our sister Church in Rome. Not from strategy or weakness, but in obedience to Christ’s prayer: ‘that they may all be one’ (John 17:21). What unites us is far greater than what divides us.”
Patriarch Bartholomew recalled milestones such as the historic meeting of Patriarch Athenagoras and Pope Paul VI in Jerusalem in 1964, and his own encounters with Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. He noted how they had stood together for peace, human dignity, and care for creation: “Christian faith is not an ideology or a closed identity, but a path of life, truth, and love.”
Turning to the young people involved in the peace initiative, the Patriarch urged them to embrace dialogue and not fear difference: “Do not fear your neighbor, even if they pray differently or understand God differently. Within every person dwells a divine spark. Dialogue begins with a glance, a gesture, a kind word. It begins when we dare to experience otherness.”
He acknowledged the struggles of today’s world—from Ukraine to the Middle East—and the painful cries and hopes that echo along the Mediterranean shores: “In this inner sea of our shared humanity, a new chapter in dialogue is being written—between peoples, religions, and generations.”
Referencing the 2016 visit to the island of Lesvos with Pope Francis and Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens, he recalled their joint message: “We are united in our desire for peace and our commitment to resolve conflicts through dialogue and reconciliation.”
The Patriarch reiterated the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s mission to be a prophetic voice in today’s world: “We support peace, justice, and the protection of Creation. True ecology is linked to a conversion of the heart. There can be no peace on earth without respect for the earth.”
He concluded by expressing gratitude for the deepening relationship with the Church of Rome, especially following Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, which underscores their shared journey to protect “our common home.”
Finally, the Patriarch warmly welcomed the groups from Cyprus and Ukraine, renewing his support for the Ukrainian people amid the war and praying for peace in their homeland and across the world.
Following the Liturgy, Patriarch Bartholomew distributed the antidoron and commemorative gifts to all present.
Photos: Mevlan Suleyman / Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
