Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Great Vespers at the Patriarchal Church on Wednesday, November 29, 2024, for the feast of Apostle Andrew the First-Called, Founder of the Church of Constantinople.
At the conclusion of the Vespers, the Ecumenical Patriarch conferred the Offikion of Archon Actarius of the Great Church of Christ upon Dr. Vassilios Voudris, a distinguished physician and cardiologist.
Addressing the newly appointed Archon, the Ecumenical Patriarch highlighted, among other things, the following:
“The Church has always honored the work of doctors and today highlights the importance of a holistic approach to patient care, emphasizing the trust-based relationship between the patient and the doctor. It also underscores the risks of depersonalization, which arise from viewing the patient as an anonymous case within the vast, technocratic, and complex modern healthcare systems.
We also extend our personal congratulations to you, with a reminder that the Ecumenical Patriarchate has instituted the celebration of the Synaxis of All the Holy Physicians in October. This serves as an eternal commemoration of the sacrificial service to humanity and as a call and invitation to all who practice this noble profession to embody its ethos.”
In his response, the new Archon expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Ecumenical Patriarch for the great honor bestowed upon him.
The Ecumenical Patriarch warmly welcomed all the pilgrims who traveled to Constantinople for the Thronal Feast of the Church of Constantinople.
“Filled with feelings of joy, we welcome you to the radiant and festive Phanar, within the courtyards of the Great Church of Christ, which honors the sacred memory of its founder and patron, the Holy and Glorious Apostle Andrew.”
He also referred to the presence of the official delegation from the Church of Rome.
“As many of you know, the official delegation of His Holiness Pope Francis of Rome is present in our City to participate in the Thronal Feast of the Church of Constantinople. This longstanding custom, observed for many decades, serves as a sign and symbol of the dialogue of love and truth between the two Churches. It also reflects the so-called ‘dialogue of life,’ a shared journey, by God’s grace, toward unity in faith and the common chalice of the Divine Eucharist.”
On the occasion of the Thronal Feast of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a reception was held at the Cultural Center of the Greek Diaspora, located in the historic Urban School of Galatas.
As part of the celebration, a musical event was held featuring artists from the Budapest Festival Orchestra. The event was organized through the initiative of the Pannonhalma Archabbey and supported by the Hungarian State. The event was introduced by Cirill Hortobágyi, Abbot of the Monastery, and Orsolya Erdődy, Managing Director of the Budapest Festival Orchestra.
After the musical event, the Ecumenical Patriarch delivered a speech in Greek, Turkish, and English, warmly welcoming all those in attendance. He particularly acknowledged the presence of the official Delegation of the Church of Rome this year and highlighted the upcoming celebrations in May 2025, marking the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, Bithynia.
“On this occasion, we will host our dear brother, the Pope, in May. We will also have the pleasure of praying for the unity of the Church,” said the Ecumenical Patriarch. Elsewhere, he highlighted that the Church of Constantinople has consistently strived to act as a pioneer in fostering meaningful encounters between peoples and traditions. He also emphasized the shared responsibility of all to advance peace and solidarity across the world.
He emphasized that, in our complex and often troubled world, the call for peaceful coexistence is more urgent than ever. “Our Holy Foundation is deeply committed to this mission, striving to build bridges between religions, cultures, and nations,” he said, referring to the Mother Church’s efforts to raise awareness of the suffering endured by those affected by war, displacement, human trafficking, the climate crisis, and poverty.
“We continually pray for peace in Ukraine, the Middle East, and all war-torn regions, so that the light of reconciliation may shine brightly amidst the darkness of conflict.”
He noted that the Ecumenical Patriarchate has always served as a bridge for fostering ties of friendship between Turkey and Greece, as well as for promoting cultural tourism initiatives between the two countries. “We are determined to continue this effort,” he stressed and called on the competent authorities to help in this direction.
In his speech, he expressed his aspiration for the reopening of the Theological School of Halki, which has remained closed for 53 years, and emphasized that consultations initiated by the President of the Republic of Turkey are ongoing. “We are very optimistic that the sacred desire of all of us will be fulfilled. We hope that the talks will end as soon as possible and that our School will once again become a place of education and culture.”
The musical event and the subsequent reception were attended by the official Delegation of the Church of Rome, Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne and other Churches, representatives of the Christian Communities of Constantinople, the Deputy Minister of Education of Greece, Zetta Makri, representing the Greek Government, a Delegation from the Hungarian State, members of the Diplomatic Corps, expatriates, and numerous other guests from Constantinople and abroad.
Photos: Nikos Papachristou
