The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Divine Liturgy on Friday, December 6, 2024, for the feast of Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker, at the namesake church named in his honor in the Balat district of Constantinople. This church has been designated to address the spiritual needs of the Ukrainian-speaking community in Constantinople.
In his homily, the Patriarch referred to the historic announcement made by his predecessor, the late Patriarch Athenagoras, from the same church during its feast day on December 6, 1963. Patriarch Athenagoras intended to travel to the Holy City of Jerusalem a month later to meet Pope Paul VI. “From this perspective, the church of your community will forever remain significant in the history of our Church, particularly in its relations with the Church of Rome,” the Patriarch remarked, adding:
“Since that time, over the past six decades, significant progress has been made in the area of rapprochement and reconciliation between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. It is impossible not to feel grateful to our Lord Jesus Christ for His abundant blessings. Sixty years have passed since that first meeting in Jerusalem, and this year marks a decade since the second meeting, which took place in May 2014, between Pope Francis and myself, celebrating the 50th anniversary of that historic encounter. This year also brings to mind with gratitude Pope Francis’s first visit here, exactly a decade ago, during the Thronal Feast of the Church of Constantinople in November 2014.
With great joy and special honor, we are now preparing to welcome the Pope again this coming May as part of the joint celebrations organized by our Church and the Church of Elder Rome to commemorate the remarkable 1,700th anniversary of the convening of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. The grand celebration of this Council recognized and revered by the entire Christian world, also serves as a call for unity among all.
We are deeply gratified that the current Pope, like his immediate predecessors from Paul VI to Benedict XVI, shares a commitment to the great cause of “the unity of all”, for which our Holy Church constantly prays. With the fortunate alignment of the celebration of Easter next year between Eastern and Western Christianity, we believe it presents a golden opportunity to reach an agreement with Pope Francis for the permanent establishment of a unified Easter celebration date for the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, following the Canon of our Church. We are optimistic that the Anglican Church and other Protestant communities will gladly adopt such an agreement.”
The Patriarch then addressed Orthodox Christians who oppose this prospect, clarifying:
“This agreement would exclusively concern the date of Easter and not a liturgical concelebration with our Roman Catholic brethren, as such a concelebration presupposes full communion between our two Churches—a goal we have not yet achieved despite significant progress in theological dialogue. Just as most Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas on December 25 annually, the same date as the Roman Catholic Church, and as Roman Catholic communities in Greece follow the Orthodox Canon to celebrate Easter together with their Orthodox brethren, and as in Finland, the date of Easter has been unified for all Christians for many years, we propose instituting this practice on a global Christian level, based on the Orthodox Church’s method of determining Easter. We believe there is no better way to honor the memory of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, who, among other achievements, addressed the issue of a unified Easter. It is indeed regrettable that 1,700 years later, we are still debating this issue!”
He continued:
“It is unacceptable and incomprehensible that, in the 21st century, we still live with fanaticism, pettiness, and prejudice. Our God is a God of love. Even if mistakes were made in the past, we must not perpetuate them. These simple yet profound truths were taught to us throughout the long Patriarchate of the late great Patriarch Athenagoras, to whom we remain eternally grateful. Today, his soul hovers above us, rejoicing alongside us. Eternal and blessed be his memory!”
Prayers for Russian Clergy and Laity Supporting Persecuted Orthodox in Ukraine
The Patriarch reminded the congregation that this church was entrusted by the Mother Church for the spiritual needs of its Ukrainian-speaking faithful in Constantinople, congratulating the Ukrainian-born Archimandrite Methodios, priest-in-charge of the community, for his efforts.
“The unwavering care of the Mother Church of Constantinople also extends to the faithful and severely tested people of Ukraine, who have endured nearly three years of a horrific war waged by the Russian Federation. The upcoming feast of Christmas, the day that proclaims “peace on earth”, should compel all to work towards a definitive end to the war with a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. We pray unceasingly for the swift and full recovery of the wounded, the repose of the souls of the victims, and the comfort of their families in Ukraine and Russia alike. Today, we offer special prayers to Saint Nicholas for those Russian clergy and laity who support their suffering Orthodox brethren in Ukraine and face harsh persecution and imprisonment for opposing the inhuman policies of President Putin and the un-Christian rhetoric of Patriarch Kirill. May their example awaken consciences both within and beyond their country.”
The Patriarch expressed gratitude towards Bishop Adrianos of Alicarnassos, “who diligently cares for the needs of his region and actively supports the Ukrainian-speaking parish here, embodying the true spirit of the Phanar.” He wished him a swift recovery after a recent accident and thanked the community’s Church Committee for their contributions.
In closing, the Patriarch honored the memory of the late Nikolaos Petropellis, a long-serving parish priest, and Nikolaos Manginas, a close collaborator who documented the contemporary history of the Ecumenical Patriarchate through photography.
The homily during the Divine Liturgy was delivered by Deacon Epiphanios Kamyanovich. Among the attendees were Metropolitan Joachim of Bursa, the Consul General of Ukraine in Constantinople Roman Nedilskyi, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, members of the Ukrainian community, and pilgrims from abroad.
Photo credit: Nikos Papachristou
