The great Feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh was celebrated in a solemn and joyful atmosphere at the Venerable Center of the Holy Great Church of Christ.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Thursday, December 25, 2025, at the Patriarchal Church, presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Concelebrating were the Metropolitans of Philadelphia Meliton, Irinaios of Myriophyton and Peristasis, Chrysostomos of Myra, Theoleptos of Iconium, Ioakeim of Bursa, Theodoros of Seleucia, and Grigorios of Ancyra. Also participating was the Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Saint John the Forerunner in Essex, Archimandrite Peter.
During the Divine Liturgy, the Ecumenical Patriarch ordained Deacon Sophronios Garaiacu, a brother of the aforementioned Holy Monastery, to the rank of Presbyter.
The Patriarchal Encyclical for the Feast of Christmas was read by the Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Archimandrite Vosporios.
“The priest does not belong to himself, but to Christ, accomplishing all things ‘through Him who loved us’ (Rom. 8:37). The more he strives to live up to his sacred ministry, the more deeply he realizes that nothing is his own achievement, but that everything is a heavenly gift and grace, accomplished through him by the Lord, within the communion of the Church,” said, among other things, the Ecumenical Patriarch.
Prior to the ordination of Fr. Sophronios, the Ecumenical Patriarch, in his address, referred to the supranational character of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which, as he noted—recalling the words of the late Metropolitan John of Pergamon—is not bound by narrow national frameworks.
Among those present at the service were the Ambassador of Greece to Ankara, Theodoros Bizakis; the Dean of the Consular Corps of Constantinople, the Consul General of Croatia, Ivana Zerec; members of the clergy; Archons of the Holy Great Church of Christ; as well as a large number of faithful from Constantinople and abroad.
Following the service, during the festive reception held in the Throne Hall, the newly ordained Presbyter Fr. Sophronios delivered his response, in which he expressed his heartfelt gratitude, respect, and filial devotion toward the Ecumenical Patriarch.
Earlier, the Ecumenical Patriarch received, at the official Patriarchal Office, the warm Christmas greetings of the Acting Mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality of Constantinople, Nuri Aslan; the District Governor of Beyoğlu (Pera), Atakan Atasoy, accompanied by his wife; the Acting Mayor of the Municipality of Beyoğlu (Pera), Sefer Karaahmetoğlu; as well as representatives of other municipalities of Constantinople and delegations from several political parties.
Photos: Nikos Papachristou
