Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who celebrated the 50th anniversary of his election as Bishop (Metropolitan of Philadelphia), assured that he would continue his ministry steadfastly, guarding Thermopylae, “for as long as God wills”, stressing that “to Him we owe everything! We serve Him and worship Him! We entrust to Him the things to come… ‘May His will be done’, now and forever!”.
The Ecumenical Patriarch presided over the Divine Liturgy on Monday, December 18, 2023, at the Patriarchal Church, on the occasion of the feast of the Holy Martyr Sebastian and his anniversary, after which he performed a Trisagion for the repose of the souls of his immediate predecessor, late Patriarch Demetrios, and the blessed Hierarchs who constituted the Holy and Sacred Synod on the day of his election as Bishop.
He then presided over the ceremony of the signing of the Patriarchal and Synodal Act for the inclusion in the Church’s Calendar of three new Saints: Nun Gabrielia (Papagianni), of Constantinople and Leros, Hieromonk Athanasios Hamakiotis, and Archimandrite Gervasios Paraskevopoulos.
“The Ecumenical Patriarchate remains attuned to the tumultuous waves of history, adept at documenting humanity’s endeavors throughout various historical epochs and effectively addressing them. It has imprinted its mark upon civilization and, by the grace of the omniscient God, the Most Holy Theotokos, and all the Saints, it will persist in bearing witness to the grace bestowed upon us and the hope that resides within us, even in the times to come.
We praise and thank the God of mercy for His heavenly and salvific gifts to His people, to the Church and the Greek Nation. The Church is the beacon of spiritual culture and precious values, which constitute our identity.
It is impossible to understand our identity without reference to Orthodoxy and its history, nor can we imagine our future without the decisive presence of its tradition and without the preservation of its values. If we are cut off from our spiritual roots, we will not survive.
This is a most glorious and blessed day for the people of God, whose life and piety is enriched by the three new Saints, whom the eternal grace of God gave to the Church.
The saint is the indwelling place of God or the temple of God. God rests in the saints, as do the saints in God.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch acknowledged the lives, gifts, and contributions of the three new Saints of the Church, emphasizing that “they embody living and graceful icons of the philanthropic God, inviting humanity into communion with His holiness within His Church—the ‘communion of the Saints.'”
Then, obviously moved, he referred to the 50th anniversary of his election as Bishop: “With profound emotion, we honor the memory of our esteemed Predecessor, Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrios, a humble leader of love and reconciliation. It was his personal wish and endeavor that led to the proposal within the Holy and Sacred Synod to elevate Archimandrite Bartholomew Archontonis, the Director of his newly-formed Private Office, to the rank of Metropolitan.
His memory is eternal and unforgettable, as well as the blessed Synodal presidencies, through whose canonical vote we became Metropolitan of Philadelphia, and for the repose of the souls of whom we have just performed the Trisagion.
We never considered this election as an alleged reward for the fulfillment of the duties assigned to us. On the contrary, from the first moment, we perceived it as a duty and responsibility to serve the Mother Church with greater responsibility, zeal and diligence, always in humility and faithfulness and obedience to it.”
“We are still shocked today by the trust shown by Patriarch Demetrios, our Elder and the other members of the Holy Synod to a new clergyman, whom they made Bishop of the Great Church and co-governor of its sacred affairs.
Naturally, this example of theirs was deeply engraved in us and guided our own choices for the staffing of the Patriarchal Court, during our thirty-two years of humble Patriarchy, by talented and hopeful clergy, whom we honored through the promotion of the Patriarchal administration, despite their young age. The same applies to us and for the Hierarchical elections.
As we have mentioned in the past, ‘the needs of the Church determine whether and when a hierarchical election take place.’ This is what we experienced! That’s what we believe! This is what we do, for the glory of Christ and His Holy Great Church, observing the legacy we received from our late Predecessor.”
Many Hierarchs also attended. Elder Emmanuel of Chalcedon, Elder Apostolos of Derkoi, Elder Demetrios of Princes Islands, Elder Meliton of Philadelphia, Eirinaios of Myriophytos and Peristasis, Elder Paisios of Chrysostomos of Leros, Kalymnos and Astypalaia, Elder Chrysostomos of Patras, Elder Chrysostomos of Kifissia, Kyrillos of Maroussi, Oropos and Marathon, Apostolos of Miletus, Stefanos of Kallioupolis and Madytos, Athenagoras of Kydonia, Maximos of Selyvria, Makarios of Australia, Bartholomeos of Smyrna, Kyrillos of Imbros and Tenedos, Bessarion of Spain and Portugal, Andreas of Saranda, Bishop Adrianos of Halicarnassus, Stefanos of Stratonikeia, Paisios of Xanthoupolis and Anglican Bishop Christopher Hill, clergy, monks and nuns, Ambassador Konstantinos Koutras, Consul General of Greece in Constantinople and others.
