Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, during his visit to Strasbourg on Sunday, January 26, 2025, presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle.
Following the Divine Liturgy, the Ecumenical Patriarch received a warm welcome from Metropolitan Demetrios of France.
In his response, the Ecumenical Patriarch addressed the congregation, expressing his joy at the opportunity for face-to-face communication. “We are glad because, in the faces of all the children of the Mother Church who have come together and participated in the celebration of this bloodless Sacrifice—first and foremost the dear brother, Metropolitan of France—we see the love, piety, and devotion of the children of the Mother Church throughout the world. We take pride in their spiritual progress, prosperity, and the fruits of their labor achieved during the years since our last visit to Strasbourg,” stated the Ecumenical Patriarch.
Elsewhere in his address, he emphasized: “Our presence today among you stirs within us the desire to express our heartfelt congratulations for your love for your shepherd and the local Church. The venerable Metropolitan of France dedicates himself tirelessly to the ministry and pastoral care in many ways, making himself deeply beloved by us, by the Phanar, and by all members of the Orthodox Church in France. Through his noble and kind character, he earns recognition and respect. His dedication to catechism and the systematic education of the clergy and faithful, as well as his efforts to foster relations of brotherly love and cooperation with other Christians—Roman Catholics and Protestants alike—are a testament to his genuine ethos. We commend and congratulate you, dear holy brother. In the faces of the members of the Strasbourg community, we see the authentic and faithful children of the Church of Constantinople, embodying the enduring and ever-crucified ecumenical Hellenism.”
At noon, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew offered his blessing at a luncheon hosted in his honor by Nikolaos Sigalas, Ambassador of the Permanent Representation of Greece to the Council of Europe, at the Ambassador’s residence. The event was attended by members of the Greek Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, diplomats, and other notable personalities.
In the afternoon, the Ecumenical Patriarch attended a concert performed in his honor by the Chamber Choir of Kozani at the Temple Neuf. Later that evening, he blessed a dinner hosted in his honor by the Parish of the Three Hierarchs of Strasbourg, which was attended by many parishioners and guests.
