“As an Orthodox Greek community in Constantinople, we have a great historical heritage and we must all, with no exceptions, rise to the level of today’s difficult circumstances and stand worthy of our responsibility. The difficulties are for the brave. After all, the Romiosyni of Constantinople is always distinguished for its love and attention to the temples, the pilgrimages, and the holy water, which it adorns and beautifies. The Church is the Center not only of the Orthodox Christian Community but also of the whole life of the Greeks of Constantinople.”
With these words, among others, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in his speech, after the opening of the renovated Holy Temple of Saint Paraskevi Vathyrryakos and the Divine Liturgy, in which he presided over, on the Sunday before Christmas, 2021, described the timeless relationship of the Greeks of Constantinople with the Church, urging everyone to continue to help in every way in the maintenance of the sacred temples and foundations of Romiosyni.
“Can you imagine our life here, without the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and away from the church of your Community? It is impossible! That is why it is the sacred duty of all to always contribute to the maintenance and proper appearance of our holy temples, which will show our piety and nobility, these characteristics of our Nation, which we must never forget”.
He expressed the satisfaction of the Mother Church and himself personally to all those who contributed morally and materially to the renovation of the Temple, led by Metropolitan Elder Apostolos of Derkoi, whom he warmly congratulated both for today and for his 10-year work in the Metropolis.
Concluding his speech, the Patriarch expressed his warmest wishes to all, for the holidays of Christmas, and paternally urged all those who have the opportunity to help our brothers and sisters in need.
Earlier, Elder Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi stated that from the first moment he was assigned the pastorate of the historic Metropolis of Derkoi began the efforts to renovate the Church of Saint Paraskevi, which had suffered the consequences of time and “was hurt” by the tragic events of September 1955. He expressed his joy that the completion of the works coincided with the completion of thirty years of Patriarchy of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and thanked all those who contributed in every way to carry out the restoration work.
Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, Chrysostomos of Myra and Theoliptos of Iconium, Bishop Cassianos of Arabissos, Archons of the Mother Church, the Consul of Greece in Constantinople Danae Vasilakis, representatives of the Metropolitan Municipality of Constantinople, the local Municipality of Sarıyer, and many believers were present.