The Orthodox Vespers was celebrated at the Saint-Étienne-du-Mont on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève in Paris, near the Pantheon, on Sunday, October 11, by Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, accompanied by Bishops Eirinaios of Region and Maximos of Melitini, in the presence of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Paris, Michel Aupetit, the Greek and Cypriot diplomatic authorities in Paris, offikalioi of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and many faithful.
This Vespers service is usually celebrated for the memory of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite, who, according to tradition, was Bishop of Paris and was martyred there.
This church, which dates from the 6th century, also contains the shrine with the relics of St. Geneviève. The 1600th anniversary of the birth of Saint Geneviève (420) is celebrated this year.
Saints Dionysius and Geneviève are the patron saints of Paris.
In his speech, the Metropolitan spoke about the two saints and their struggle for the spread of Christianity in the region. The saints of the indivisible Church, he stressed, are for all of us today guides for the desired unity of Christians when the Lord allows it.
Source: Metropolis of France