Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, August 23, 2026, for the Leave-taking of the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos at the ruins of the historic Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni in Cyzicus.
Concelebrating with the Ecumenical Patriarch were Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna and Bishop Nikolaos of Amathus of the Church of Cyprus.
Among those attending were Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and Metropolitan Maximos of Selyvria, as well as clergy, monks, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, descendants of refugees from Artaki now living in Nea Artaki on the Greek island of Evia and other parts of Greece, and pilgrims from Istanbul and Imbros.
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Erdek, together with other representatives of the local authorities, were also present.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Patriarch Bartholomew celebrated a memorial service for the late Ecumenical Patriarch Joachim III, who granted the monastery the status of a Patriarchal Stavropegion, and for all those who had served at the historic monastery.
“What grace, what blessing, what joy”
In an emotional address following the service, the Ecumenical Patriarch reflected on the significance of returning to the ruins of what was once the renowned Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni, an important pilgrimage destination for the people of Artaki and Orthodox Christians throughout the surrounding region.
“God has permitted us this year once again to come to historic Cyzicus and celebrate the Leave-taking of the venerable Feast of the Dormition and Translation into Heaven of our most blessed Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. What grace! What blessing! What joy and gladness!” he said.
Patriarch Bartholomew recalled that the first celebration at the monastery following the events of 1922 took place in 2015, ending 93 years of silence at the site.
“And today we are here once again,” he said, describing those gathered as filled with hope and devotion and turning their hearts toward the Mother of God.
Miraculous icon preserved at the Phanar
The Patriarch also recalled that the monastery’s historic and miraculous icon of Panagia Faneromeni has been preserved at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Phanar for approximately a century, after being transferred from the monastery.
Speaking of the icon’s presence in the Patriarchal Church, he said that before it he offers prayers “for the Great Church, for our people, for Orthodoxy throughout the world, for suffering humanity and for the peace of the entire world.”
“Faneromeni sanctifies us day and night, accompanies us through the difficult hours of everyday life and through every extraordinary circumstance. Faneromeni is our refuge and our support,” the Patriarch declared.
He described the monastery’s ruins as “holy relics of living piety” and “silent yet resounding preachers of the greatness of Christ.”
“We spiritually embrace every inch of land, every stone, every grain of mortar, every fragment of tile,” he said, stressing that the remains continue to bear witness to centuries of devotion to the Theotokos.
“The Dormition is the Pascha of summer”
Patriarch Bartholomew also reflected on the popular Greek designation of the Leave-taking as the “Nine Days of the Panagia,” explaining its theological meaning.
“The Panagia, of course, has no need of memorial services,” he said. Rather, he continued, the Theotokos constantly remembers Christians and all humanity before her Son.
The Church therefore does not celebrate a “nine-day memorial,” he stressed, but the joyful Leave-taking of the great feast of the Mother of God, “which we rightly call the ‘Pascha of summer.’”
The Patriarch prayed for peace in a troubled world, for the stability of the Churches of God and for the enlightenment of those entrusted with the destinies of nations.
He thanked all those who had traveled to Cyzicus for the celebration and those who had worked to prepare the pilgrimage. Speaking in Turkish, he also expressed his gratitude to the regional governor and the local authorities of Erdek for granting permission and providing assistance for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the historic site, now surrounded by dense vegetation and forest.
Photos: Nikos Papachristou
