On the afternoon of Friday, May 22, Elder Metropolitan Demetrios of Princes’ Islands received the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with great respect, joy, and honour, together with his clergy and lay associates. The Patriarch visited the Metropolis headquarters, accompanied by his entourage, following his veneration at the Cathedral Church of Our Lady the Merciful.
The Ecumenical Patriarch remained at the Metropolis for over an hour, showing paternal concern for the affairs of the province and blessing the pastoral and communal work being carried out there through the Metropolitan.
He then attended the major event organised by the Museum of the Princes’ Islands, dedicated to the 16th anniversary of its founding and the presentation of the Prinkipo Orphanage’s long history, as well as the broader history of the beloved island, accompanied by the Metropolitan, the clergy of Prinkipo, and the Chairwoman of the Community Council, Mrs Agni Nikolaidou. The event was organised by the Princes’ Islands Public Benefit Foundation (Adalar Vakfi).
In his moving bilingual address, the Patriarch drew on his own memories and emotions, as well as those of the Greek Orthodox community, concerning the Prinkipo Orphanage’s long history of suffering. At the end of the event, he congratulated the organisers, especially the President of the Princes’ Islands Foundation, the architect Mr Ali Erkut.
After the event had finished, the Ecumenical Patriarch left the island, accompanied by the Metropolitan, the Mayor of the Islands, Mr Ali Ercan Akpolat, and the Chairwoman of the Prinkipo Community Council.
On Wednesday, May 20, Metropolitan Demetrios presided at the Metropolitan Church of Saint Demetrios of Prinkipo for the Leave-taking of Holy Pascha, as well as at Vespers on the same day. The following day, he celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the great Feast of the Ascension and the sacred commemoration of Saints Constantine and Helen.
