On the afternoon of the Holy Thursday, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew officiated at the First Communion of the Holy Passion of the Lord, at the Patriarchal Church.
According to the tradition, the Ecumenical Patriarch read the first of the 12 Gospel passages and then followed the co-patrons Rev. Fr. Metropolitans of Philadelphia Mr. Meliton, Myriophytos and Peristaseos Mr. Irineos, Myron Mr. Chrysostomos, Forty Churches Mr. Andreas and Prussia Mr. Joachim, Panosiol. M. Protosyggellos Mr. Theodoros and clergymen of the Patriarchal Court, while the twelfth evangelical passage was read by Panosiol. M. Archdeacon Mr. Paisios.
The Patriarchal Church and the whole Patriarchate were shrouded in darkness during the procession of the Crucified, with the emotion of all peaking.