“God is the solution to every human problem, and in our day not only the Church, but all of humanity needs God to enjoy the blessings of peace and love,” emphasized the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during today’s service over which he presided at the historic Holy Church of the Presentation of Christ (Hypapante) in Thessaloniki.
After referring to today’s Feast of the Presentation and its theological symbolism, the Ecumenical Patriarch stated: “And today, not only the Church, but all humanity needs innocence and love and devotion to everything good, peace-bringing, and salvific—or rather, to the one and only Good One and Savior, the incarnate peace of God. He is the solution to every human problem and every human misfortune. And insofar as people seek solutions apart from Him, peace without Him, and joy outside of Him, they toil in vain, beating the air.”
On the occasion of the feast, which is historically connected with the fortieth-day blessing of the infant, Patriarch Bartholomew underlined the unique role of the mother as nurturer and educator, saying: “For us Orthodox Christians, our mother, our devout and God-fearing mother, is a little Panagia. And the Panagia is our great Mother. For this reason, when we invoke the one, we bring the other before us as well. As we venerate the icon of the Theotokos, we feel that we are honoring and embracing our own mother. When we kiss our mother’s hand, we are certain that we honor the Theotokos and receive her blessing,” Patriarch Bartholomew said, and continued: “The devout Romios mystically unites the earthly mother with the heavenly one. Therefore, on this occasion, we extend warm paternal wishes and patriarchal blessings to all devout Christian mothers, and we exhort them, emulating the virtue and loving care of the Most Holy Theotokos, to raise their beloved children in the instruction and admonition of the Lord.”
Patriarch Bartholomew made special reference, on the occasion of the completion of three years since his repose, to the late Metropolitan John of Pergamon, praising his ecclesiastical, teaching, and scholarly work, and concluded his address with wishes: “Blessed be Thessaloniki, blessed be the people of Thessaloniki, blessed always be Macedonia and God-protected Greece. Many years to all, years of health, peace, and joy.”
Present at the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy were the Deputy Minister of the Interior (Macedonia–Thrace), Kostas Gioulekas, the Deputy Minister of Development, Stavros Kalafatis, the Deputy Minister of Education, Nikolaos Papaioannou, representatives of local government, Metropolitans, and fathers from Mount Athos, among others.
Unveiling of a Mosaic
At noon, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited the Evangelistria Cemeteries and the chapel of the Apostle Paul, located on the grounds of the Philoptochos Brotherhood of Men of Thessaloniki, where he unveiled a mosaic depicting the Apostle to the Nations, a work by sculptor Aphrodite Liti.
Patriarch Bartholomew listened to traditional songs of the City performed by a folk orchestra and a choir composed of school students.
The Ecumenical Patriarch expressed his pleasure at the gracious invitation of the Philoptochos Brotherhood of Men of Thessaloniki on the occasion of the 155th anniversary of its founding and thanked its president, Georgios Konstantinidis, noting that through the guided tours of the exhibitions and facilities of the Brotherhood he was informed about the “broader charitable and social work that they carry out in Thessaloniki and far beyond, even as far as Africa,” adding: “We, as the Ecumenical Patriarchate, share common spiritual bonds with the Philoptochos Brotherhood also by virtue of the fact that the shepherd of Thessaloniki at the time of the Brotherhood’s founding was the late Joachim of Thessaloniki, who ascended the Ecumenical Throne and served two illustrious patriarchates. This fact alone establishes and forges spiritual bonds between Constantinople and Thessaloniki. I wish that these bonds, this friendship of ours, our cooperation, and our mutual respect and love may continue unhindered into the future. I congratulate the Bishop of Thessaloniki, Mr. Konstantinidis, and all who contribute to and participate in these charitable activities.”
At this time, the Patriarch is visiting the cemeteries of Saint Paraskevi in Stavroupoli, Thessaloniki, and in the evening, he will speak at an event of the Philoptochos Brotherhood of Men of Thessaloniki at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall.
Source: ANA-MPA, Fanis Grigoriadis
Translation: Ioanna Georgakopoulou
Photo: ECCLESIASTICAL STATION 4E
