The Great Feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary was solemnly celebrated today, March 25, 2021, at the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The Ecumenical Patriarch presided over the Divine Liturgy, which was co-celebrated by the Hierarchs Elder Emmanuel of Chalkidona, Elder Apostolos of Derkoi, Irineos of Myriofyto and Peristasis, Chrysostomos of Myra, Gennadios of Sassima, Andreas of Arkalochori, Kastelli and Viannos, Metropolitan Amphilochios of Adrianople, and Andreas of Fourty Churches.
During it, the newly-elected Metropolitan Ioakeim of Bursa was ordained Bishop and the new Chief-Secretary, Hieromonk Gregorios, to Presbyter, to whom, after the Dismissal, the Ecumenical Patriarch awarded the Offikion of the Archimandrite of the Great Church of Christ.
Prior to the ordination of the elected Metropolitan of Bursa, the Ecumenical Patriarch addressed both of them and wished them paternally all the best to their new positions.
“You take over the Church in Bursa, in a period of small but steady rebirth, thanks to the interest of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for all the Orthodox there and not just the Greeks. I urge you to remain prudent and gentle and to continue to serve your fellow human beings with the same willingness.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch then addressed the successor of Ioakeim to the position of the Chief-Secretary of the Sacred Synod, Gregorios.
“Love work and do not stand idle. The believer, on the other hand, every believer, is always on the move, and always dares, even if there is a possibility of error. You should know that the person who believes that is never wrong nor fails, does not find a place in the Orthodox Church.”
Immediately afterwards, the elected Metropolitan of Bursa expressed his gratitude and devotion to the Ecumenical Patriarch.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, after receiving the Episcopal Mitre and the crosier from the Ecumenical Patriarch, the newly ordained Metropolitan performed from the Patriarchal Throne the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy.
Immediately afterwards, the Ecumenical Patriarch bestowed the Offikion of Archimandrite of the Holy Church of Christ to the new Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod Gregorios.