Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was proclaimed today ‘spiritual founder’ of the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi during his visit there in the morning.
According to ANA-MPA, during the ceremony, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew praised the devotion of the Brotherhood of Vatopedi to the Ecumenical Patriarchate and he recalled some memories about a visit which he had made to the Monastery of Vatopedi thirty years ago.
In particular, the Ecumenical Patriarch said, “No one questions their devotion to the Mother Church. The Monastery of Vatopedi has always been noble and closely associated with the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”
According to ANA-MPA, he did not forget to highlight the fact that the Abbot Ephraim of Vatopedi had done a very important work, who later on said that the Ecumenical Patriarch was “a shining example of a shepherd and a paragon of virtue, who had been promoting spiritual well-being.”
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonis Diamantaris, accompanied the Ecumenical Patriarch during the ceremony, who said that the fact that he was on the side of the Ecumenical Patriarch was a historic moment for him. He also spoke of the strong ties between him the Monastery of Vatopedi.
