The residents of Palaio Faliro extended a warm welcome to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who, during the event, sent powerful messages, especially in light of the recent focus on the Vatican.
The Ecumenical Patriarch is currently on a five-day visit to Athens. Earlier on Friday, he attended a luncheon held in his honor by the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Çağatay Erciyes, at the ambassadorial residence. Later, he performed memorial services (Trisagion prayers) at the graves of distinguished officials of the Great Church of Christ: Aristides Panotis, theologian, and Alexandros Alexandris, retired ambassador. He then proceeded to Flisvos Park, where he officiated another Trisagion at the monument dedicated to Constantinopolitans who fell during World War II, located in Palaio Faliro.
The Mayor of Palaio Faliro, Yiannis Fostiropoulos, introduced and welcomed the Patriarch, after which the Ecumenical Patriarch addressed the audience: “I am here among you—among Constantinopolitans, but also Athenians who have opened their arms and warmly and fraternally embraced those from Constantinople, as well as from Imbros and Tenedos, who have settled here. Our gathering today is in honor of a debt owed to the fallen reservists and volunteers from Constantinople who gave their lives during World War II,” he stated, expressing his gratitude to all who “took the initiative to establish the monument on the hospitable soil of Palaio Faliro. […] It is a rightful expression of honor and gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and the ideals that our nation believes in and remains devoted to,” he added.
Bartholomew: We Do Not Envy the Grandeur of the Vatican
At that point, the Ecumenical Patriarch shared a personal reflection, saying he was particularly moved “because among the fallen was the brother by blood of my spiritual father, the late Metropolitan Meliton of Chalcedon—Polydoros Chatzis,” pointing to his name at the bottom of the memorial plaque.
Immediately after, the Patriarch responded to a remark made earlier by one of the dignitaries of the Ecumenical Throne, Mr. Michailidis. Mr. Michailidis had noted the current splendor surrounding the Vatican due to the election of the new pope and expressed a sense of joy “as it reminds me of our little alley in the Phanar.”
The Patriarch emphasized the following:
“I bring you all the blessing of the Mother Church—our Patriarchate—which, by the grace of God, stands firm and unwavering in its centuries-old post. And as our dear Mr. Michailidis said, we follow the ways of Christ, the humble and simple God-man. We are not moved, nor do we envy or covet the grandeur of the Vatican or other centers and cities. I experienced them in Rome during my three years of postgraduate study there, but never did I feel any inferiority complex.”
In closing, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew stated: “We are grateful to God for who we are, for what we have, and together we shall continue along the path of our traditions and the ideals of our race and our nation. Christ is Risen.”
Source: Orange Press Agency
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
