The Ecumenical Patriarchate commemorated yesterday, December 14, late Metropolitan Meliton (Hatzi) of Chalcedon, a very important Hierarch of the Ecumenical Throne, who fell asleep in the Lord 30 years ago.
The Ecumenical Patriarch said that he was an emblematic figure of the Church world and therefore he has become an inspirational spiritual father. He also said that he was a very charismatic preacher of the Holy Gospel, a militant of the Orthodox Faith, a visionary, and he was in favour of dialogue.
Metropolitans Konstantinos Geron of Nikaia, Apostolos Geron of Derkon, Geron of Princes Islands, Germanos of Tranoupolis, Eirinaius of Myriophytos and Peristasis, Chrysostomos of Myra, Theoliptos of Ikonio, Andreas of Arkalochori, Damaskinos of Kydonia and Apokoronos, Nikiforos of Kinshasa, Stefanos of Kallioupolis and Madytos, Athenagoras of Kydonia, Maximos of Sylivria, Bishops Dimitrios of Thermi, Adrianos of Halicarnassus, Kassianos of Aravissos, Benjamin of Tralles, clergymen, monks from Mount Athos, Archons Offikialioi, and many people attended the honorary event organised by Professor Konstantinos Delikonstantis.
In the morning, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at St. Ignatius Theophorus Cemetary Church in Chalcedon. Then, the memorial service was held and the Ecumenical Patriarch laid flowers at the tomb of late Metropolitan Meliton (Hatzi) of Chalcedon.