A deeply moving pilgrimage visit was made by Metropolitan John of Zambia to the historic island of Tenedos, as part of the celebrations for the Feast of Saint Paraskevi and the reopening of the fully restored Church of Saint Panteleimon.
The liturgical celebrations were presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who, visibly moved, referred to the martyrdom-laden pages of the island’s history, condemning the 1964 persecutions. In his address, he stated: “It is unacceptable for a state to destroy its own citizens.”
The Church of Saint Panteleimon was restored thanks to the generous donation of Mr. Athanasios Martinos, Archon of the Ecumenical Throne, whom the Patriarch publicly thanked for his crucial contribution to the preservation of the island’s sacred heritage.
During his stay on Tenedos, Metropolitan John also had the opportunity to brief the Patriarch on the latest developments regarding the non-canonical intrusion of the Moscow Patriarchate into the Patriarchate of Alexandria.
Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas
