Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Acropolis of Silivria in Eastern Thrace, the birthplace of Saint Nektarios, Bishop of Pentapolis, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his repose, on Sunday, November 15, 2020
“With emotion, joy and devotion, we are gathered today at the birthplace of Saint Nektarios to honor in liturgical his sacred memory and the 100th anniversary of his repose at the Aretaeion Hospital in Athens,” said the Ecumenical Patriarch in his speech, adding that the Orthodox Church honors its saints, who are flesh of its flesh. They are an integral part of its life and hope. They are companions, relatives and friends, relatives and fellow citizens, they also protect and support the faithful, a role model for their lives.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch stressed, “Today we face the terrible COVID-19 pandemic and we all turn to the Virgin Mary and ask for healing, consolation and hope. The Virgin Mary, the “hope of all Christians,” is the “Doctor” who heals and expels diseases, cures the injury of the body and the pain of the soul.
In his speech, the Ecumenical Patriarch pointed out: “Saint Nektarios was a model of life in Christ and the Church, which is the place and the way of the renewal of everything through the saving divine Economy.”
Finally, he expressed gratitude to the Metropolitan Maximos of Sylivria for his work and everything he achieved as shepherd of this Province of the Ecumenical Throne in Eastern Thrace. “You did your best, you cooperated successfully with the local authorities, you inspired the people of Sylivria everywhere, you built a Metropolitan House with its beautiful church.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch awarded the offikion of Oikonomos of the Ecumenical Throne to Vasilios Ioannidis, a clergyman of the Archdiocese of Constantinople, who also serves the Metropolis of Sylivria.
Representatives of the Metropolitan Municipality of Constantinople, the Municipality of Sylivria and the local Associations of Exchangers of 1924, and faithful from Sylivria and Constantinople attended the Divine Liturgy.
