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A Patriarchal Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Church of Saint Nicholas of the Athens Philanthropic Society to mark its 150th anniversary. The service was presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with the co-celebration of Metropolitan Elder Emmanuel of Chalcedon and Metropolitan Joachim of Bursa.
Present at the celebration were prominent hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of Greece, including Archbishop Makarios of Australia; Metropolitan Theodoritos of Laodicea, representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Athens; Metropolitan Maximos of Ioannina; Metropolitan Gregorios of Peristeri; Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Zakynthos; Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Dodoni; and Metropolitan Georgios of Guinea, representative of the Patriarchate of Alexandria in Athens.
Bishop Iakovos of Thavmakos attended as the representative of Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens, along with a representative of the Archbishop of Cyprus. The congregation also included university professors and a large number of faithful.
From the political leadership, attendees included the President of the Hellenic Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis, Minister of National Defense Nikolaos Dendias, Minister of Labor Niki Kerameus, MP Maximos Charakopoulos, Civil Governor of Mount Athos Alkiviadis Stefanis, Mayor of Athens Haris Doukas, and prominent members of the laity such as shipowner Athanasios Martinos and other Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Following the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew conferred the honorary title of Archon of the Ecumenical Throne upon attorney Leonidas Maravelis.
