On the 1st Sunday after Easter, the Sunday of Thomas, Metropolitan Polykarpos of Italy visited the Parish of St Great Martyr Menas in Sedegliano (UD).
The Metropolitan of Italy celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the middle of the community with Archimandrite Athenagoras Fasiolo of the Ecumenical Throne, the Rector of St Barbara Monastery of Montaner di Sarmede (TV)- the General Secretary of the Metropolis, Protopresbyters Fr. Petru Parvu, the Rector of the Parish St Great Martyr Menas, Fr. Dionigi Vidigh, the parish priest of the Parish St Great Martyr Menas and Fr. Vasyl Kuchyrka and the parish priest of The Most Holy Cross Ukrainian Parish in Casarsa della Delizia (PN).
The Metropolitan of Italy wished to emphasize to the faithful that we must not feel strangers because in the Orthodox Church we are part of a large family that welcomes us with open arms. The Great and Holy Church of Christ, that is the Ecumenical Patriarchate, embraces and welcomes all the Orthodox faithful from wherever they are, regardless of nationality.
At the Divine Liturgy attended many local authorities such as The Mayor of Sedegliano Dino Giacomuzzi, the Vice Mayor of Sedegliano Giovanni Trevisan, and the Vice President of the Romanian Community in Diaspora Radu Lupu.
The Mayor expressed his warmest welcome to the Metropolitan and underlined the importance of the Orthodox community in the territory of the municipality of Sedegliano and the fact that soon a new Orthodox Church will be built for the whole community.
The divine service was held in Italian, Romanian, Ukrainian, and Greek- the Choir was composed by Dimitris the Protopsalt of the Archdiocese, and the Presvitera Luiza Filipescu.
After the Divine Liturgy was held a memorial service for all our departed ones.