On the morning of Good Friday, April 18, 2025, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Vespers of the Deposition from the Cross (Descent from the Cross) at the Patriarchal Church of St. George at the Phanar, in a deeply moving and reverent atmosphere.
Concelebrating with the Ecumenical Patriarch were Metropolitans Meliton of Philadelphia, Irenaios of Myriophyton and Peristasis, Chrysostomos of Myra, Theoleptos of Iconium, and Theodoros of Seleucia.
The homily was delivered, according to tradition, by the Grand Protosyncellus Grigorios, offering reflections on the sacred meaning of the day.
Following the Vespers, the beautifully embroidered Epitaphios, bearing the immaculate Body of the Lord, was carried through the church in solemn procession and placed within the flower-adorned Tomb in the center of the solea. This sacred act was performed by Grand Archimandrite Iakovos and Archimandrite Kaisarios Chronis, Archivist of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The Ecumenical Patriarch was the first to pay respects to the Epitaphios, followed by the attending Hierarchs, clergy of the Patriarchal Court, and Archons of the Great Church of Christ. The Patriarch then distributed the customary blessed flowers to them and to the faithful present in the church.
Later that afternoon, in keeping with tradition, the Ecumenical Patriarch visited the Holy Monastery of the Life-Giving Spring (Zoodochos Pigi) in Baloukli, where he paid respects to the tomb of his immediate predecessor, Patriarch Demetrios. The Patriarch laid flowers and offered a Trisagion memorial service, invoking the holy blessing of his predecessor.
Photo: Nikos Papachristou / Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
