LAST UPDATE 21:14
The Vespers service was concluded in the Church of Saint Georgios in the village of Agioi Theodoroi in Imbros, while Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria, and Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv being present.
The service took place on the island of Imbros, the place of origin of the Ecumenical Patriarch, who paid a visit to celebrate his 60 years of priesthood.
Speaking after the end of the Vespers, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew spoke about the hierarchs who were in the Church.
He referred to the Patriarch of Alexandria Theodore, his “close associate” as he stated, who supported the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Ecumenical Patriarch not only in the Holy Synod of Crete in 2016, but also with the recognition of the Autocephaly of the Church of Ukraine, as Archbishops Ieronymos of Greece and Chrysostomos of Cyprus did, the Ecumenical Patriarch stated.
While speaking about Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv, he spoke of a “new leader of the Orthodox Church,” while he stressed that he (the Ecumenical Patriarch) responded to the request of the millions of Orthodox in the country and granted the Tomos of Autocephaly to the Church of Ukraine.
He also referred to his upcoming visit to Kyiv, marking the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.
Present as representatives of the Church of Greece and the Church of Cyprus were the Metropolitan of Maronia and the Metropolitan of Kition, while the Civil Governor of Mount Athos, Athanasios Martinos, and his spouse were also present.
Earlier, a doxology was performed on the arrival of Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv on the island of Imbros.
On the morning of August 13, Metropolitan Epifaniy will take part in the solemn service on the occasion of the anniversary, where he will concelebrate with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria, and All Africa, and hierarchs-representatives of the Church of Greece and of Church of Cyprus.