On Saturday, 29 April 2023, Geron Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi, along with the catechetical teachers and students of the Holy Metropolis, went to the seat of the Primate of Orthodoxy, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Phanar, so that they may offer their prayers and wishes for the Great Feast of Pascha.
Upon their arrival, the children, accompanied by their parents, were guided to the Venerable Patriarchal Church of Saint George the Trophy-bearer by the catechists Ms. Efstathia Mania and Mrs. Makrina Erduran and then went to the Throne Room to receive the blessing of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Afterwards, Metropolitan Apostolos presented the group of the Sunday School, which is worth noting that it started operating in March 2022, after many years of suspension (according to the testimonies of former and current members of the church community, the last catechist was, as Archdeacon of the Holy Metropolis of Derkoi and later Metropolitan Germanos of Theodoroupolis) on the initiative of the Metropolitan himself and Deacon Father Daniel Zafeiris.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate, after wishing the children good progress in their endeavors and to always stay close to the Mother Church, distributed souvenirs, prayer ropes, and icons to them all. With great joy, the children sang “Christ is Risen…” and recited “Our Father…” in a difficult time for the City, due to the great need for catechism and chanting.
After the end of the visit, which will be repeated every year at the request of His All-Holiness, a treat was offered in the courtyard of the Patriarchate and then they went to the Pera Museum (Pera Müzesi), while after their tour they were given the opportunity to engage with various activities, such as crafts, toy construction, and many more.
