In a festive atmosphere, on the morning of Easter Sunday, April 16, the Vespers of the Resurrection was celebrated in the Holy Metropolitan Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in the capital of Imbros, Panagia.
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, after dressing in the Hierarchical vestments, in the Episcopate, joined by Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros and Tenedos, Metropolitan Kyrillos of Moschonisia and Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Myra, as well as by clergy of the Patriarchal Court and the Holy Metropolis of Imbros and Tenedos, he arrived, in procession, at the adjacent Metropolitan Church, and presided over Vespers.
The Ecumenical Patriarch, from the Royal Gates, read the Holy Gospel in Greek and then it was read successively in Turkish by Archimandrite Grigorios Grigoriadis, into Italian by Deacon of the Order Varnavas Grigoriadis, in English by Patriarchal Deacon Ieronymos Sotirelis, and in Slavonic by the Grand Syncellus Archimandrite Iakovos, and finally, as usual, from the pulpit it was read again in Greek by Deacon of the Order.
Georgia Soultanopoulou, Consul General in Constantinople, with her husband Ambassador Ioannis Raptakis, Archons of the Great Church of Christ, as well as faithful from Imbros and friends of Imbros from abroad attended the church.
In his speech, the Patriarch referred to his special homeland, to the great love he has for his place of birth, but also to the responsibility that all Imbrians have not to be cut off from their roots, from the land of their ancestors.
Immediately after, the Ecumenical Patriarch was heartily thanked by Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros and Tenedos for the support he offers to Imbros and to all Imbrians, while a young man from the island offered him some freshly blooming spring daisies picked by local youth.
After the end of the Vespers of the Resurrection, the Ecumenical Patriarch shared with all the faithful wishes for Holy Pascha, to whom he offered the customary red eggs and sweets. Then he blessed the table with traditional dishes that was placed in the garden of the Metropolis.
Photos: Nikos Papachristou / Ecumenical Patriarchate
