In memory of the Holy Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew celebrated yesterday, on Sunday of All Saints, June 11, 2023, the Divine Liturgy, at the Patriarchal Church.
The Ecumenical Patriarch thanked all those who came to celebrate his name day, and referred to the most important events of his patriarchal ministry over the past year, from last June until today.
The Ecumenical Patriarch said: “We rejoice that the Mother Church acquired recently its own altar in Athens but also another temple in the capital of Ionia for the needs of our Holy Metropolis thanks to the immediate response of His Holiness Pope Francis of Rome to the relevant request of myself. We are grateful to His Holiness and beloved brother in Christ for generously expressing his love for us and his trust in our Church of Constantinople.” “We wish and pray that our common journey will be seamless and unhindered and that we will oon reach this great and illustrious day, to the glory of God,” he added.
He continued: “It is evident that during the last year since the outbreak of the unholy and destructive war in Ukraine, we have been following developments, praying for the return of peace, and condemning at every opportunity the Russian invasion in an independent and sovereign state, violating international law and moral order.”
He also added: “Last year, we welcomed into the family of the canonical Orthodox Churches the Archdiocese of Ohrid, which led to further developments, not always canonical, in relation to inter-Orthodox matters.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch then referred to t the struggles being waged today by the Ecumenical Patriarchate: “The Church of Constantinople embraces today the whole world and prays for peace, while others prefer the use of arms and promise forgiveness of sins and paradise to those who kill their brothers and sisters.”
“The Ecumenical Patriarchate has been playing a predominant role in the Orthodox World,” he stated. “We are unaffected by the changes and adventures of everyday life, we remain, persevere and endure,” he pointed out.
Aftewards, the Ecumenical Patriarch received at the Patriarchal Office the wishes and gifts from hierarchs, the clergy, and lay members.