Patriarchal – Archbishopric and Synodal Divine Liturgy was performed today at the Cathedral of Athens for the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
After the completion of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Hieronymos, after welcoming the Ecumenical Patriarch and wishing him thirty years since his recovery to the Patriarchal Throne, he stressed:
"Your Holiness, we welcome you today as the Patriarch of the Genus of the Orthodox. As the "angel".” personifying the pansept Universal Throne, who has to demonstrate a continuous succession and global radiation, but at the same time a martyr's march towards the Kingdom of God.
In front of the sept relic of your martyred predecessor, Saint Gregory V, we, especially this year when in our country we celebrate 200 years from our National Palygenesis, to underline the contribution of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in preserving the faith and identity of the enslaved Roma. And we Panhellenic are grateful to our Patriarchate for’ this".
Subsequently, reported, including, to the multifaceted and important contribution of the Ecumenical Patriarch and expressed his undivided respect, the love and support of the Church of Greece:
"We recognize, yet, that the Ecumenical Throne is the one that was honored with the presence of many Holy Fathers of the Church, who shaped Orthodox Theology, as well as prominent ecclesiastical figures who celebrated the mystery of the unity of the local Orthodox Churches. Among these churchmen, the last thirty years, at the head of the Throne is Your Holiness.
Your offer is multifaceted and important:
– Evangelism a way of life, which aims, including, in the struggle and anxiety for the consolidation of pan-Orthodox unity, according to the tradition and canonical order of the Orthodox Church.
– The lasting testimony of the Orthodox ethos and way of life that characterizes the ecclesiastical space of the East.
– The strengthening of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with new and promising executives.
– The special care towards the sacred respects of the faith and the genus, which were bequeathed to you by your venerable predecessors, the Patriarchs, and you restored them to their ancient beauty”.
– And much more, which the entire Orthodox world knows and testifies to.
For all these reasons and for many more that time does not allow to add, you have and will continue to have, as Abbot of the First Throne Church of Constantinople, undivided respect, our love and wholehearted support", he added.
End, he offered him a Gospel as a souvenir.
In his objection, including, the Primate of Orthodoxy thanked His Beatitude and the Church of Greece and expressed his joy for the invitation. Then, he made reference to the pandemic and the touching sacrifice of doctors and health personnel, while he pointed out that he supports the work of the State.
"We assure you that our thoughts are always after the Greek people and humble but fervent wishes are sent to the Lord for the removal of the unruly and resistant, unfortunately, scourge of the pandemic, so that everyone comes out of the crisis with the least possible suffering and loss. We share the difficult and painstaking work of the State to deal with this difficult situation, effort, which requires knowledge, sympathy, shrink, sufficient sacrifice of the attending physicians and health officials and long-lasting patience", he stressed.
in addition to, he spoke about the unity of the two Churches, even if at times there were difficulties: "It fills our soul with joy and peace the fact that our presence here, in the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Athens, it senses and announces the near and the far everywhere, the fundamental and inseparable unity of the Mother Church of Christ and her beloved daughter. It is a fact that sometimes there were kidney stones on our heads, but these did not bring destructive rains but only dew and rain and euphoria of spiritual fruits and fruitful dialogue and companionship on the major issues of Orthodoxy, as was also demonstrated during the period of the pre-hierarchical ministry of Hymons, Blessed are you, due to the prothymou and very beneficial, participation of the Church of Greece in the Holy and Great Synod of the Orthodox Church and by being one of the first to coordinate and harmonize with’ us on the issue of the recently granted autocephaly to the Church of Ukraine.
In each case we overcame the emerging problems in our relationships, proving our sacred and indestructible bond. Constantine's pious source of Orthodoxy and Genus irrigated the ecclesiastical field of Greece for centuries and especially during those leap years, keep the faith and the mind, saved our Orthodox identity and ultimately exported the- her children at leisure. Because, as Prof. wrote years ago’ Yammas, Blessed are you, Synod Committee of Orthodox and Inter-Christian Relations under Blessed Corinth Panteleimon, the Greek people "are extremely sensitive to everything,what concerns his love and respect for the Ecumenical Patriarch”. And the Committee referred to the previous visit here of our predecessor Dimitrios, emphasized that "the unique and magnificent reception of this was the crowning of the Church of Greece and the Greek people and rendering of all the great honor due to the Food and Mother of the Nation, the 5th Ecumenical Patriarchate", he stressed.
End, he offered to the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece Hieronymus as a gift engolbia.
The Metropolitans collaborated with the Primates, Samou Eusebius, Elder Chalkidonos Emmanuel, Sidirokastro Makarios, Augustine of Germany, Konstantinos of Megara and Amfilochios of Hadrianoupolis.
It was attended by the Ministers of Education and Religious Affairs, Niki Kerameos, Culture and Sports, Lina Mendoni, Tourism, Vassilis Kikilias, the regional governor of Attica, George Patoulis, the mayor of Athens Kostas Bakoyannis and the political commander of Mount Athos, Athanasios Martinos.