On Friday, 27 February 2026, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided at the Patriarchal Church of St George in the Phanar during the Service of the First Stasis of the Salutations to the Most Holy Theotokos.
Concelebrating in prayer were Metropolitan Dionysios of Zakynthos and Metropolitan Joseph of Buenos Aires, along with clergy of the Patriarchal Court.
The homily was delivered by Archimandrite Kaisarios Chronis, Archivist of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, who reflected on the spiritual meaning of the Salutations and the intercessory role of the Theotokos during the sacred season of Great Lent.
Immediately after the service, the Ecumenical Patriarch received Archon Exarch Athanasios Martinos and his wife, Mrs. Marina Martinos, at the Patriarchal Office.
Earlier that morning, the Patirarch had presided over the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, with the prayerful participation of Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon.
Also in attendance was Bishop Awraham Youkhanis, Hierarch of the Assyrian Church of the East from London. Following the service, Bishop Awraham was received by the Ecumenical Patriarch in the presence of Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, President of the Synodal Committee on Inter-Christian and Interreligious Dialogue.
Photos: Nikos Papachristou, translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
