Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was prayerfully attending in the altar during the Divine Liturgy for the feast of St. Nektarios at the Church of Saint Georgios in Neochorion on Monday, November 9. Archbishop Nektarios of Anthidon, Commissioner of the Holy Sepulchre in Constantinople, who officiated the Divine Liturgy at the metochion of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, celebrated his name day.
In his speech, the Ecumenical Patriarch stated that he attended the service on the name day of the Archbishop of Anthidon to express his love and honor for him.
“We came to wish you because we love you. And we love you for what you are and for what you do,” said the Ecumenical Patriarch and continued: “You are honest, genuine, simple, unpretentious, humble, cooperative, amiable. We have come to show you our appreciation for what you do, not just for who you are. And you do so much for the three metochia of the Holy Sepulchre in Constantinople and for the work of our Ecumenical Patriarchate, which you love and respect since you were its clergyman and served in Latin America. Since then, your connection has remained unbroken with the Great Church of Constantinople. You went to the Church of Jerusalem, which fairly promoted you but the sacred and indestructible spiritual bond with the Phanar never ceased. So we have come to thank you for what you are doing and for our Ecumenical Patriarchate, and to ask God, through Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, to keep you for many more years in Constantinople, in the midst of us, to continue your work for the metochia of the Holy Sepulchre and your church work.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch offered to the hierarch an engolpion.
Earlier, Archbishop Nektarios, in his address, said he was blessed by the presence of the Ecumenical Patriarch on his name day. He referred to the 29th anniversary of Bartholomew’s ascension to the Patriarchal Throne, which “is located between Golgotha and the Zoodochos Sepulchre. We will find you either on Golgotha or in the Zoodochos Sepulchre, bathed in the light of the Resurrection, and always taking care of and guarding the consciousness of the Nation and holding the helm of the Church.”
Archbishop Nektarios also expressed his gratitude to Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem for his trust, love and appreciation. As a sign of respect to the Ecumenical Patriarch, he offered him an engolpion, a replica of Byzantine artefacts of Vatopedi Monastery.
The Metropolitan of Derkoi, Geron Apostolos, Bishop Kassianos of Aravissos, clergymen and many faithful attended the Divine Liturgy.