In a festive atmosphere, the Ecumenical Patriarchate celebrated the memory of its founder, St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle.
On Saturday, November 30, 2024, a Patriarchal and Synodal Divine Liturgy was presided over by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with the participation of Makarios of Anea, Theodoritos of Laodicea, Nikodimos of Kassandria, Athenagoras of Belgium, Barnabas of Neapolis and Stavroupolis, Leros, Paisios of Kalymnos and Astypalaia, Nathanail of Kos and Nisyros, Theoklitos of Ierissos, Mount Athos and Ardamerion, Ilias of Oulou, Daniel of Accra, Iakovos of Ireland, and Epiphanios Mantineia and Kynouria.
A representative from the Church of Rome, Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, was also in attendance.
Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, Elder Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi, Elder Metropolitan Dimitrios of Princes’ Islands, Nektarios of Anthedona, Commissioner of the Holy Sepulchre in Constantinople, Vassilios of Contantia and Ammochostos, representing the Church of Cyprus, Sotirios of Canada, Chrysostomos of Dodoni, Meliton of Philadelphia, Eirinaios of Myriophytos and Peristasis, Chrysostomos of Myra, Theoleptos of Ikonios, Makarios of Gortyni and Arcadia, Chrysostomos of Eleftheroupolis, Damaskinos of Kydonia and Apokoronas, Kyrillos of Krini, Dionysios of Zakynthos, Stefanos of Kallipolis and Madytos, Konstantinos of Singapore, Arsenios of Austria, Athinagoras of Kydonia, Job of Pisidia, Maximos of Selyvria, Bartholomew of Smyrna, Andreas of Saranda Ekklisies, Ioakeim of Bursa, and Theodoros of Seleucia prayerfully attended the service.
Bishops Andrianos of Halicarnassus, Paisios of Apameia, and Maximos of Aristi also prayerfully attended the service.
In attendance were Deputy Minister of Education Zetta Makri, representing the Greek Government; former Prime Ministers of Bulgaria Nikolay Denkov and Kyril Petkov; Ambassador Konstantinos Koutras, Consul General of Greece in Constantinople; the Consuls General of Ukraine, Roman Nedilskyi, and Moldova, Sergiu Gurduza; clergy, monks, and nuns; representatives of Christian Communities in Constantinople; the Abbot of the Roman Catholic Monastery of Pannonhalma in Hungary, Cirill Hortobágyi, accompanied by a large delegation; Archons Offikialioi of the Great Church of Christ, led by the President of their Brotherhood “Panagia Pammakaristos,” Athanasios Martinos, Archon Exarch; teachers and students of Greek diaspora schools in Constantinople; and a large congregation of faithful from Constantinople and abroad.
The Divine Word was preached by Metropolitan Joseph of Proikonnesos.
After the dismissal, the Ecumenical Patriarch addressed the official delegation of the Church of Rome, referring, among other things, to the work of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. He also highlighted the 20th anniversary of the return of the holy relics of his predecessors, Saints Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, by Pope John Paul II, after eight centuries of their presence in Rome.
“The Church of Rome has given serious consideration over the past three years to its mission in a world threatened by secularization, wars, abuses, poverty, the climate crisis, and various other challenges. For the past three years, the Church of Rome has been reflecting on ways to adopt a more conciliar approach in its mission ministry.
We followed with great interest the proceedings of the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops of the Church of Rome, both last year and this year.
At the kind invitation of Pope Francis, the Church of Constantinople appointed Metropolitan Job of Pisidia as its representative, who provided us with a thorough report on the proceedings of this historic Synod.
From this perspective, we are pleased to acknowledge the progress and success of the work of the International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between our two Churches in addressing and resolving past misunderstandings and disagreements.
It is our earnest desire to inform the Hierarchs, clergy, and faithful of our Churches about these results, so that they may actively participate in the ‘dialogue of life’ and that the joy of brotherhood in Christ may prevail.”
In anticipation of next year’s celebration of the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, the Ecumenical Patriarch remarked:
“In this spirit, we wish to emphasize, as highlighted by the recent Synod of Bishops of your Church, that the coming year, 2025, will mark the 1700th anniversary of the convocation of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea. This monumental event should serve as a profound opportunity for all of us to reaffirm our faith in the incarnate God.
We pray that this momentous occasion will also serve as an opportunity for us to collaborate in determining, in accordance with the relevant decision of the First Ecumenical Council, the unified date for celebrating the glorious Resurrection of our Lord. May this, as intended by Divine Providence for the coming year, enable us to offer a united witness to the mystery of salvation to the world.
The Ecumenical Patriarch requested that Cardinal Koch convey “his personal best wishes and heartfelt expression of deep gratitude to Pope Francis, along with his prayer that the Lord God grants him health and strength to continue his vital and esteemed mission.”
Subsequently, Cardinal Kurt Koch read a warm and fraternal message from Pope Francis of Rome, written in English. In the message, the Pope referred, among other things, to the upcoming 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council. He reiterated his previously expressed desire to celebrate this significant event together with the Ecumenical Patriarch and conveyed his gratitude to all those who have already begun efforts to make this collaboration possible.
“This anniversary will concern not only the ancient Sees that took part actively in the Council, but all Christians who continue to profess their faith in the words of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.
In this regard, I willingly unite myself to your prayer that there may be peace in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel and in Lebanon, and in all those regions where there is being fought what I have often called a ‘piecemeal world war’.”
Later, at noon, the Ecumenical Patriarch welcomed Nikolay Denkov and Kyril Petkov, former Prime Ministers of Bulgaria, engaging in a discussion on current and pressing issues.
Photos: Nikos Papachristou
