LAST UPDATE 17:03
By Kostas Onisenko
Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv has already arrived in Imbros with his entourage, on the 60th anniversary of the priesthood of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
A doxology took place at the Metropolitan Church of Imbros on the occasion of the arrival of Metropolitan Epifaniy.
The Metropolitan of Kyiv, after the end of the doxology, addressing Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros, stressed that “I am very happy to be here with you today, to participate in the joy of the First among the Primates, who celebrates 60 years of priesthood here in the beautiful island of Imbros”.
As stated in an announcement via social media by the Metropolitan of the Church of Ukraine, “Imbros is the homeland of Patriarch Bartholomew. Here, in the village of Agioi Theodoroi, he was born on February 29, 1940, and on August 13, 1961, he was ordained as a deacon.”
The official meeting of the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will take place this afternoon. Metropolitan of Kyiv is going to participate in the Vespers.
On the morning of August 13, Metropolitan Epifaniy will take part in the solemn service on the occasion of the anniversary, where he will concelebrate with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Patriarch Theodore of Alexandria, and All Africa, and hierarchs-representatives of the Church of Greece and Church of Cyprus”.
It is worth noting that Metropolitan Epifaniy is accompanied by Archbishop of Chernihiv and Nizhyn, Evstratiy (Zoria), who also announced his arrival on the island through pictures he posted on his social media account.