The Resurrection of the Lord was solemnly celebrated at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the epicentre of Orthodoxy, in accordance with the long ecclesiastical tradition and order.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the ceremony on Holy Saturday of the Resurrection in the courtyard of the Patriarchate, where he was surrounded by the clergy of the Patriarchal Court. He addressed a special message regarding the celebration of Easter to them as well as to the young people, to whom he has dedicated the year 2020.
“Do not be afraid of any pandemic, nor the economic difficulties that will come after. You can turn the pandemic of fear and sickness into a time of support and love for our fellow human beings and for every human being. We are all brothers and sisters at this difficult time,” he said.
He also made a particular reference, which stirred up a great deal of emotion. In particular, he spoke of the Orthodox youth living in Turkey, who coexist with people of different religions and who are coming from various ethnic minorities. But he said that the Ecumenical Patriarchate has been offering them a safe and caring environment.
“I would like, in particular, to salute and congratulate the Orthodox young, that is the Orthodox men and women, who live here, close to our Patriarchate: the Greeks, the Turks, the Russians, the Ukrainians, the Romanians, the Georgians, and the Bulgarians. My children, you may all speak a different language and have a different culture, but the common Orthodox faith, that is the faith in the Risen Christ, the Redeemer, unites you and, therefore, it unites all of us. You are all children of the Risen Christ! The fact that you belong to the Ecumenical Patriarchate is another important factor that also unites you. You are under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as long as you live, no matter for how long, in this historic city,” he added.
Finally, the Ecumenical Patriarch performed the Divine Liturgy of the Resurrection.
Gepostet von Ecumenical Patriarchate am Samstag, 18. April 2020
