The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Third Sunday of Lent, the Sunday of the Veneration of the Holy Cross, at the Divine Liturgy in the Patriarchal Cathedral on April 7, 2024.
The service was co-officiated by the Metropolitans Meliton of Philadelphia, Eirinaios of Myriofyton and Peristasis, Chrysostomos of Myra, Theoliptos of Iconium, Chrysostomos of Messenia, Amphilochios of Adrianople, and Theodore of Selefcia.
The Divine Liturgy was performed, by the Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Archimandrite Vosporios, with the Sub-Secretary, Deacon Oikoumenios. Grand Archdeacon Alexandros delivered the divine sermon.
Archons Offikialioi of the Great Church of Jesus Christ and a large number of faithful from both Constantinople and abroad attended the Divine Liturgy.
On the evening before, the Ecumenical Patriarch presided at Holy Vespers, after which He ordained to the office of Archon Chartoularios of the Holy Church of Jesus Christ, Nikolaos Michaelides, a businessman, researcher, and scholar of the history of Hellenism in Constantinople and a native of Constantinople.
Addressing the new Archon, the Ecumenical Patriarch emphasized that the violent uprooting during the expulsions of 1964/65 not only did not erase from his soul the imprint of his origin and identity but preserved it.
“This became the fulcrum of your life and led you, at the appropriate time, back to your ancestral land from which you were only physically distant. After a successful professional career and advancement in the maritime and business sectors, you dedicated yourself to the research and study of history, primarily dealing with issues related to our Constantinople.
Your dedication was unique and invaluable, especially between the years 2009 and 2014, in the restoration, maintenance, and elevation of our cemetery in Sisli and its inclusion in the “Association of Great Cemeteries of Europe”. As part of this effort, you also created the documentary “The dead die only when they are forgotten”.
Thanks to your moving contribution, the cleaning and maintenance of the Patriarchal tombs has recently been completed and the historic Balıklı Cemetery has also been included in the Association of Great Cemeteries of Europe. We express our Patriarchal satisfaction for all these achievements”.
Your work as a writer is also commendable, dear Archon. Your book “The Greek-Turkish and the Constantinople Volunteers in World War II (1939-1944)” demonstrated the soldiers’ patriotism and bravery, faith in freedom, and struggle against totalitarianism and barbarism.
We also mention the second volume of this work, entitled “On the Road to Truth”, in which you describe the journey of the Constantinopolitan volunteers on the boat “Evangelistria” back to Constantinople, which ended tragically.
In honor of them, you erected the “Monument to the Fallen Constantinopolitans of the Second World War” in the Palaion Faliro, which we would like to visit at the first opportunity.
The Patriarch congratulated the new Archon, noting that he was being honored for “all that is humble and kind, praiseworthy and good” that he had achieved, and expressed his confidence that he would prove himself worthy of his trust.
The Archon responded with a lengthy speech expressing his gratitude to the Ecumenical Patriarch for the great honor bestowed upon him.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou / Photo: FB account @Yani Kayakoparan
