The memory of the Three Hierarchs and “Guardians of the Letters” was honoured in the Phanar today with great splendor. In his speech, the Ecumenical Patriarch emphasized the importance of treasuring the spiritual heritage of the Greek nation, which is “an embankment against the corrosive tendencies of modern civilization to man and freedom” and of communicating it to the new generation.
“Unfortunately, education seems to be no longer interested in the spiritual nature of the man and makes young people focus primarily on themselves and their needs rather than on the common good; on success rather than on ministry. The Church is concerned about today’s dominant ‘secular person-centered education system’, which is transmitting to young people, in the name of a purely humanitarian orientation of education, individualistic and eudaemonistic idealistic models,” Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew stressed among others.
The Ecumenical Patriarch pointed out that the Feast of the Three Hierarchs is an opportunity to return to the spiritual roots of the Greek nation, to draw on piety and to empower ourselves for our good witness in the world, while at the same time he made a special reference to the spiritual heritage of the Holy Three Hierarchs.
Earlier, the Ecumenical Patriarch presided over the Divine Liturgy held at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George, concelebrated by the Metropolitans Elder Apostolos of Derkoi, Irenaios of Myriofytos and Peristasis, Chrysostomos of Myra, Stephanos of Kallioupolis and Madytos, Athenagoras of Kydonia and Maximos of Selyvria.
The panegyric of the day was delivered by Archimandrite Timotheos Railakis-Vranas, hierarchal head of the community of Vafeohori.
Source: ANA-MPA
