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Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew celebrates today the 47th anniversary of his election as Bishop (Metropolitan of Philadelphia). During his speech at the historic Church of Saint Dimitrios in Sarmasik gave the assurance that as long as God allows it, he will continue his ministerial service, without neglecting his duty to the future of the Ecumenical Throne and without relinquishing the sacred legacy and the sanctified heritage of our fathers.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Divine Liturgy of the Feast of Saint Sebastian at the historic Church of Saint Dimitrios in Sarmasik today, on Friday, December 18, 2020. In his speech the Ecumenical Patriarch referred with emotion to this milestone of his personal journey.
“In these 47 years, I have kept alive in my memory and in my heart the words of my Predecessor, Patriarch Demetrios, during the announcement of my election, and I try to justify his deep conviction that “I will honor in everything the Church that honors me and with the highest responsibility, zeal and diligence, I will serve the Mother Church with humility, faith and obedience. Today, from this historic Holy Temple, I promise that for as many years as God allows it, I will continue my ministerial service, we will not neglect our duty to the future of the Ecumenical Throne, nor will we forget our long history or relinquish the sacred legacy and sanctified heritage of our fathers, but we will remain “firm and immovable.” This is our duty. The rest is in the hands of God, who writes the story for us humans” said the Ecumenical Patriarch.
The Ecumenical Patriarch reminded that in this Temple during the Byzantine years there was the Agiasma of Saint Sebastian, which was disappeared and was miraculously revealed again in the 19th century. Since then the faithful flock, especially on this day, to venerate and take from the gushing blessed water.
“The reverence and devotion of the Christians to the Church will never dry up, no matter how few we remain,” the Ecumenical Patriarch noted.