On the occasion of completion 800 years since the ordination of Saint Sava, Archbishop of Serbia, από τον αοίδιμο Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη Μανουήλ Α’ στη Νίκαια της Βιθυνίας, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, today, Κυριακή των Αγίων Πατέρων της Ζ’ Οικουμενικής Συνόδου, preceded the Divine Liturgy, at the Patriarchal Church, προκειμένου να τιμηθεί και από τη Μητέρα Εκκλησία η ευλογημένη αυτή επέτειος-σταθμός στις σχέσεις με την Εκκλησία της Σερβίας……..
"God has made it possible for us to live today and to remember great historical events such as the ordination of Archbishop Savvas, at Nicaea in Bithynia, before 800 years. "Saint Savvas is highly honored by our Serbian Orthodox brothers", said His Holiness, in his speech after the Divine Liturgy, and added that the Mother Church considered it its duty to honor this great event as well.
Among the faithful who attended the church was the Consul General of Ukraine in the city, Alexander Gaman, and his presence gave the occasion to His Holiness to refer to yesterday's decision of the Hierarchy of the Church of Greece for the recognition of the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine.
"Today should be Mr.. consul general, like all of us, particularly happy because, as you know, brethren, yesterday the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Most Holy Church of Greece took a historic decision, σύμφωνα με την οποία αφ’ ενός αναγνωρίζεται και επιβεβαιούται το αποκλειστικό δικαίωμα του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου να απονέμει τα Αυτοκέφαλα εκεί όπου παρίσταται ανάγκη, και αφ’ ετέρου, Consequently, and on the basis of this right of our Patriarchate, The Most Holy Church of Greece recognized the Autocephaly given by our Patriarchate, months ago, to the newly formed Autocephalous Church of Ukraine. We believe and wish here at the Ecumenical Patriarchate that eventually the ecclesiastical issue of Ukraine will be the point, around which the unity of the holy Orthodox brothers of God Churches will be reaffirmed and strengthened on the basis of genuine ecclesiastical tradition and regular order. From this position, we thank the sister Church of Greece and we thank the Blessed President of the Synod of the Hierarchy, Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece, Mr.. Jerome, who took the initiative and led things to yesterday's happy result ".
