In the presence of hundreds of citizens who filled the Pallas Theater, the event honoring Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I began on Thursday evening under the title “Timelessness and Universality: The Patriarchate of Constantinople in the Contemporary World.”
The event was organized by the volunteer group Romion Praxeis under the auspices of the Hellenic Parliament, in cooperation with the municipalities of Alimos and Palaio Faliro.
The celebration was held on the occasion of the double anniversary marking 35 years since the Ecumenical Patriarch’s election to the Ecumenical Throne and 65 years since his ordination to the diaconate and the beginning of his ecclesiastical ministry.
During the ceremony, two short films were screened, dedicated to the churches that at various times served as the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as well as to the historic visits of the Patriarch to ruined churches where sacred services were celebrated again after decades of silence.
Deeply moved, the Ecumenical Patriarch addressed the audience and spoke, among other things, about the difficulties and emotions he experiences when visiting churches that lie in ruins and where Christianity no longer exists.
The Ecumenical Patriarch expressed his joy and emotion at participating in the gathering, thanking the president of the organization, Elisavet Charitonidou-Kovi, along with the volunteers and co-organizers for their initiative and contribution.
Describing the event as “an excellent example” of the organization’s work, Patriarch Bartholomew praised its efforts to promote the history, witness, and ethos of Romiosyne, always centered around the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
“The Church of Constantinople is recognized worldwide as the representative of an Orthodoxy that is open to the world and engaged in dialogue,” the Patriarch emphasized, highlighting the enduring mission of the Ecumenical Throne.
Addressing contemporary global challenges, he stressed that the Patriarchate “does not remain silent in the face of the destruction of the natural environment, social injustice, intolerance, and violence.” He added that the ecological crisis affects above all “the poorest and most vulnerable people.”
Patriarch Bartholomew also reiterated his longstanding call for “a Copernican shift in values,” referring to the need for a radical transformation of mentality and behavior across all aspects of human life.
Particular reference was made to the Romiosyne of Constantinople. Despite demographic decline, the Patriarch said that “our churches have their gates open, renovated and full of divine glory,” while the community’s associations and charitable institutions remain “alive and creative.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch also expressed optimism regarding the reopening of the Holy Theological School of Halki. He announced that the extensive renovation works on the complex are expected to be completed in the coming months and that, God willing, the inauguration is planned for next September.
During his remarks, Patriarch Bartholomew publicly thanked Athanasios Martinos and his wife Marina Martinos for their financial support of the restoration project.
Concluding his speech, the Ecumenical Patriarch invited those present to visit Constantinople and the Phanar, stressing that “Romiosyne is visible and tangible not only as a past reality, but also as a concrete present that radiates centuries of experience and wisdom to the world.”
Photos: PRESS AND PARLIAMENTARY INFORMATION OFFICE/EUROKINISSI, Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
