On the occasion of the feast of the memory of Saints Constantine and Helen, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Divine Liturgy at the namesake Church of Hypsomathion on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
The Divine Word was preached by the Tritevon Mr. Barnabas.
The Ecumenical Patriarch was welcomed by Metropolitan Maximos of Selybria.
The Bishop Hilarion of Winnipeg, Archimandrite Nektarios Moulatsiotis, Protosyngelos of the Metropolis of Phocis, Abbot of St. Augustine of Hippo and Seraphim of Sarof of Trikorfos in Phocis, with members of his Brotherhood and a group of pilgrims, Protopresbyter Eugenios Pentiuc, Dean of the Boston School of Theology of the Holy Cross, with a group of professors and students, the Monk Monica, Abbess of the Monastery of St. Nektarios of Trikorfos in Phocis, with members of her Brotherhood, Michael Hatzigiannis, Director of the Hellenic Bible Society, at the head of a group of professors and postgraduate students, believers from the wider area of the Hypsomathion and pilgrims from abroad.
In his speech, the Ecumenical Patriarch highlighted the important contribution of the Holy Apostles Constantine and Helen to Christianity and the Church.
“Sts. Constantine and Helen were the first to give Christianity and freedom to the Church because they believed in the indomitable power of Jesus and His Gospel. The cross that Constantine the Great saw in heaven as a symbol of victory is the same cross that his Holy Mother Helen took out of the catacombs and raised and erected in glorious temples. For this reason, Christianity owes much to both.
This treasure and the legacy of glory they have bequeathed to us is an honor, but also a responsibility. Certainly, the privileges granted by Constantine the Great gave Christians the peace and security to exercise their duties of worship. At the same time, however, they also allowed the church to become a secular power, exploited by ambitious individuals who sought to use the benefits of these privileges to achieve ends alien to its saving and transforming mission. For ever since Christianity emerged from the catacombs, there have been times in its history when it seemed to lose its true glory and spiritual splendor.
And this story is repeated from time to time. And today the Church flourishes where it is persecuted. There are the martyrs. There is cheerfulness. There is the sacrifice. There are the deeds that recall early Christian days. Whereas, where the Church is closely embraced by secular power, it often loses its way and its mission, as, unfortunately, is the case today with the Church of Russia. As a result, it is no longer a light and life and a source of sanctification for the people of God, but an agent of obscuring the truth, as a tool in the hands of an authoritarian and oppressive power, as it relies exclusively on the rulers of this world, “who have no salvation”. The Church needs internal, spiritual freedom, according to the words of the Apostle Paul
The Patriarch then warmly welcomed all the pilgrims from abroad, especially those from Phocis, led by Archimandrite Nektarios Moulatsiotis, as well as the group of professors and students of the postgraduate program for the training of Bible translators of the Hellenic Bible Society, under the leadership of its Director General, Michael Hatzigiannis, and the professors and students from the Boston Theological School, saying the following:
“The Mother Church enveloped in the chain of joy and power and the light of the divine Resurrection, welcomes you with deep love and honour. During the days of your stay here in the City of Saints Constantine and Helena you will see the daily life of the Great Church and you will witness its infinite love for all, the breadth of the horizon of its spirit, its patience, its experiences, its preaching, a preaching of Resurrection and strength, hope and joy under whatever conditions the instability of human affairs may create around it.
We are aware of your love, devotion, and dedication to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. A tangible manifestation of these feelings is your present pilgrimage visit to the enchanting and historic Constantinople. And addressing ourselves, especially the pilgrims from Phocis, we wish to thank your Metropolitan warmly for having given his blessing to this end. We are aware of his love and attention to the Ecumenical Throne and we wish him, on the occasion of the fiftieth first anniversary of his priesthood, many years, good and blessed by the Lord.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch then thanked the Metropolitan of Selyvria “for his tireless and untiring ministry, despite the difficulties he has faced from time to time”.
Photo: Nikos Papachristou
