On the anniversary of his birthday, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew commemorated the railway tragedy victims of Tempi. On the morning of Thursday, February 29, 2024, after the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church, which was performed by Great Protosyncellus Gregory, the Ecumenical Patriarch performed a Trisagion for the repose of the souls of our 57 fellow human beings who lost their lives a year ago in Tempi, Greece.
During the Divine Liturgy, Hierarchs, Clergy, Monks and Nuns, Archons Offikalioi of the Great Church of Christ, Ambassador Konstantinos Koutras, Consul General of Greece in Constantinople, Greek Diaspora leaders, faithful from Constantinople and many pilgrims from abroad attended the Divine Liturgy.
In the end, and on the occasion of yesterday’s birthday anniversary, the Ecumenical Patriarch expressed his heartfelt gratitude to God for everything he offered him during his 84 years of life. Among other things, he said:
“This gathering is meant for us, apart from a moment of worshiping the Almighty God and a time of reflection and remembrance. We recall all those to whom we owe much in our lives, second only to God, for living and living well. We gratefully commemorate the name of our blessed Elder and benefactor Metropolitan Meliton of Chalcedon, this emblematic figure of the Holy Great Church of Christ and the Christian world. We do not forget the brave brothers, the precious friends, the fellow fighters in our ecclesiastical ministry, the beloved members of the Greek community in the City of Constantinople, where the feats of the Saints and Martyrs showcase ‘the brilliant sound of the trumpet.’
Through our life’s journey, we have learned to hold a high and optimistic view of humanity, considering them as the “beloved of God” endowed with the gift of freedom, and the one “entirely given to God”, as described by Gregory the Theologian, our esteemed predecessor among the saints. Wherever love, light, forgiveness, and reconciliation prevail in the world, along with a spirit of dialogue and solidarity, and where people strive for peace and justice, the presence of God is felt. There, the divine grace abounds, fostering freedom and encouraging human collaboration.”
Then, the Ecumenical Patriarch distributed the antidoron and received the well-wishes of the congregation.
Photos: Nikos Papachristou / Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
