"Instruments of rejoicing We welcome you to Fanario, after the solemn Doxology at the Pansepton Patriarchal Church of the Great Martyr George the Trophy Bearer, of Your Patron Saint. We praise the Builder of the Church and Giver of all good, our honor to welcome the new Archbishop of Cyprus during his peaceful visit to the holy center, bearer of love and expression of fraternal ties between our two Churches. His honorable election as Archbishop of Nea Iustianiana and all of Cyprus is a gift from God and a great blessing not only for the Church of Cyprus, but also for Orthodoxy as a whole. Through the Ecumenical Patriarchate, your election, Blessed are you, is a guarantee for the continuity of the blessed fellowship of our Churches in Orthodox and inter-Christian matters, as well as in reference to the understanding of the value of faithfulness in the tradition of Truth, to the necessity of the testimony of Orthodoxy in the modern world and to the manner of this testimony", emphasized A.Th. Panagiotis the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in his speech, welcoming at the Headquarters of the Mother Church, the manufacture, 3 Of March 2023, the A. Beatitude the Archbishop of Cyprus Mr. George, who is making a peaceful visit, the first after his election, accompanied by the Paniers. Metropolitans of Constantia and Famagusta, Mr. Kingdom, Mr. Kitiou. Orthodox Sunday was celebrated with brilliance at Fanari, Panosiol. Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod concerning him, Archimandrite. K. George Christodoulou, Panosiol Archimandrite Mr. Gregory Ioannidis, Professor at the Theological School of the Church of Cyprus, Hierol. deacon Mr. Michael Nikolaou and Ellogim. K. Michael Spyrou, director of the Archbishop's Office.
Then His Holiness, presence of the Hierarchy of the Throne in the City as well as Rev. Metropolitans of Dibri and Kitsavida, Mr. Timotheu and Stromnitsis Mr. Naum, from the Archdiocese of Ahridos, he added:
"The recently deceased great theologian, blessed Metropolitan John of Pergamos, he urged us to strive to bridge the gap between theology and life. In order for the ecclesiastical discourse to acquire a substantial impact in people's lives, "so that the history of the world is not written in the absence of theology", the pastoral intervention of the Church and the discourse of theology must "touch the existential chords of man", to promote the Church as a place and way of being in love and true freedom. The Church must incarnate and show people why Christ is the Truth about death and life.
We are, Blessed are you, contemporaries in the removal of the Cross of Orthodoxy, accomplices in the building of the Body of Christ, continuation of the common pontificate of the Orthodox tradition, fellow bearers of the dangers and competitors for the unity of Orthodoxy and for witnessing in the world. We journeyed to this dolichon after the blessed Predecessor of Hymns, Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostom II and we praise the God of love, the gifted brother of our Modesty, colleague and friend, spiritual heir of which You are, Your Grace".
His Holiness, subsequently, stated that the visit of the Archbishop of Cyprus is taking place at a difficult time for Orthodox relations.
"We are happy for the face-to-face meeting and communication with you and after your honorable escort. Your presence in the City is a gift from the benevolent God, in a difficult period for orthodox relations. The stake in the area of Orthodoxy is today, if the normativity of the Church's canonical tradition will be saved, of the decisions of the Ecumenical Synods and the centuries-old ecclesiastical practice or whether vested interests and extra-ecclesiastical principles will prevail in the life of the Church, which tarnish her divine-human character, threaten her function as a prophetic voice in the world, as a testimony of the Kingdom of God, "freedom in potential" (Mark. i'll, 1), and they turn it into a purely secular foundation.
"The Orthodox spirit... does not tolerate alienation from the world", wrote blessed professor Nikolaos Nisiotis (The Service of Orthodox Theology in Orthodox Ecclesiastical Thoughts Today, Athens 1971, p. 15). The Church transforms the world "with what it is and with,what is he doing", produces high culture, which enriches and deepens the life of the world, referring her to her eternal destiny. "The Church does not live for itself", the Holy and Great Synod proclaims (Crete, 2016), "gives the evangelical witness and distributes the gifts of God in the world: His love, the peace, justice, the settlement, the power of the Resurrection and the expectation of eternity" (Circular, Preliminaries).
Passing the word, we address to the Eternal Beatitude the "As you are present!» in the City of Cities, to celebrate, to cooperate, let's discuss, let us glorify the mighty Lord and God of our Fathers, the "wonderful one only". Great is the joy of our Moderation and of all those around us due to Your presence and Your accompaniment in Phanario, Your blessedness and dear brother. Christ in our midst, it is and it is!”
Moved by the words of His Holiness, His Beatitude the Archbishop of Cyprus, in his objection, he referred to the centuries-old relationship of the Church of Megalonis with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, spiritual center of Orthodoxy.
"When the love of God requires us to visit the Queen of Cities and pass the holy Gate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the spiritual center of Orthodoxy, we feel the religious and national emotion flood our hearts. We feel that we are in tune with our Greek Christian Culture and our glorious Byzantine History, of which we experientially reminisce over the thousand-year journey! Mentally we rise to the peaks of creativity, cultural and historical greatness.
Today's visit to Eptalofos, Your Holiness, it is my first official visit, since, previous year, the Divine Providence of the Lord entitled me to take charge of the hosts of the Holy Church in Cyprus. Is, hence, profound is the emotion that I experience when I find myself, in my capacity, in this holy Treasure of Orthodoxy.
Standing before You, both myself and my entourage, Your Holiness, we recall to our memory the sacred chorea of the glorious Patriarchs, who anointed Your martyr's throne. We remember Protokletos Andreas, so familiar to us Cypriots, "the one who sought the depths of the spirit" theologian Gregory and the golden trumpet of Orthodoxy, Chrysostomos, who died in exile, whose relics we recently worshiped in the Pansept Patriarchal Church. With the tears of the soul we still remember the beacon of faith and wisdom from the door, Photius the Great, the ambitious visionary Athenagoras, the deep-thinking Chalkidon Melitos, Derkon Joakim, Maximus of Sardis and Adamatius of Pergamum, which are sent from here, they helped us in the relatively recent past to solve serious problems of our Church.
For all of us, but also for our entire flock, Your Holiness, Istanbul is a symbol, intertwined with our centuries-old history; our religious faith, our national traditions and noble visions. For this, no matter how many times we come to this holy place, it is impossible not to feel a profound shock. Coming from a homeopathic space, we feel as sacred as you debt: to keep the traditions of our faith and race unsullied. Our visions are tuned to the same rhythms as yours.”
Then His Holiness pointed out:
"Although the Church of Cyprus has secured its Autocephaly, as you well know, from the 3rd Ecumenical Council, and therefore the relations of our two Churches are not those of Mother and Daughter, since we did not receive our Autocephalous from You, however, we never considered ourselves far from the bonds of unity and feelings of profound respect for the Church of Constantinople, the Great Church. There were several cases when the Ecumenical Patriarchate led the Church of Cyprus out of impasses, he helped her overcome adversity and led her to a place of recreation.
The long history of our ancient Churches, our participation in all the Ecumenical Synods and the struggle to secure the correct doctrine, they gave us unique experiences. And we are, today, here, in order to celebrate together, on the occasion of the upcoming feast of the restoration of the holy icons. And to declare our unity to face all emerging problems.
Your Holiness, All around us is suffering humanity, suffers "the temptations of sin". These are the result of her departure from evangelical truth. She was gradually led to secularization and enslavement to her passions. And today it suffers from wars and unrest, it hurts and aches. Thousands of people who have lost their orientation. And the charm of all these suffering people, it tears our hearts apart. This situation also indicates our responsibility as religious leaders. That is why we look forward to the conversations between us and to your own valuable experience and guidance to set a proper course of dealing with it.
We again express our thanks to God, because it requires us to visit Constantinople and confirm again, that we continue to defend normal order and tradition, which we received from our fathers. We support the Ecumenical Patriarchate and recognize its regulatory role and the powers assigned to it by the Ecumenical Councils and their Rules, between the local Churches, without distancing ourselves from tradition and the correct institutions by which the relations between us and the ecclesiastical society are determined".
And the Archbishop of Cyprus concluded:
"Your Holiness, My Honorable Entourage and I express to you from the depths of our souls the sentiments of our deepest respect, our emotion for this peaceful visit and our gratitude for your great contribution to the Church and the Nation. May God give you constant health and lead you "to every work good and pleasing before Him".
His Holiness, in his deuteronomy, once again expressed his special joy for the visit of the Primate of the Church of Cyprus and his honorable entourage to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, emphasizing that everyone's joy, however, they overshadow unpleasant events, such as the ongoing war in Ukraine, the devastating earthquakes in southeastern Turkey and Syria with tens of thousands of victims, and the recent train accident in Greece, which, as he said, shocked the Greek people, and not only. "All this overshadows our joy, intensify our prayers for the victims of these calamities and bring us closer to the families of the victims with our prayer, and with any other type of communication, to comfort them, to strengthen them to lift their heavy cross". Referring to the deadly earthquakes, he said that from the first moment he contacted Mak. Patriarch of Antioch Mr. John I, and also that the fundraiser continues for the victims of the earthquakes in the Metropolises of the Ecumenical Throne. as well as by every man of good will, his desire is the near future, after consultation with Mak. Patriarch of Antioch, to travel to the earthquake-affected areas of southeastern Turkey to express the Ecumenical Patriarchate's support to their struggling residents.
Then the Patriarch made a reference to the three-year-old visit of the blessed Archbishop of Cyprus Mr. Chrysostomos to Fanari, for the celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, and reminded that the deceased was always close and supported the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He added that he attended his exodus procession not only because it was his duty, but also his mental need and desire.
From his side, Mac. Archbishop Mr. George emphasized that the short visit of His Holiness to Cyprus for the funeral of Archbishop Chrysostom caused everyone to be moved, as it showed the mutual love they had. Regarding the recent earthquakes, he said that a fundraiser was also held in Cyprus, part of the proceeds of which will be handed over to the Ecumenical Patriarchate in order to be allocated to the earthquake victims.
"We also welcome our groomer, but also in the conversations we will have with you, and we hope to contribute with your guidance, with your own experience, in removing these difficulties encountered by the Orthodox Church. In a world threatened by atheism, from so many other foreign religions, it is difficult and unacceptable for us Orthodox not to agree. We also recognize the rights of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and that is why we are here, and we want to contribute as much as we can to securing these rights, but also in the unity of all the Orthodox. The Church of Cyprus will always be by your side and know that", Mack emphasized. Archbishop of Cyprus Mr. George.
Previously, His Beatitude the Archbishop of Nea Justiniani and all of Cyprus was the prefect of the Doxology at the Pansept Patriarchal Church, during which he was present, from the Parathron, Rev. Metropolitan of Geron Chalkidonos Mr. Emmanuel, President of the Committee on Orthodox Issues. also, Evgen attended. Consul of Greece Mr. Danai Vasilakis, believers from the City and pilgrims from abroad.
Upon the arrival of the Primate of the Church of Cyprus at the Propylaea of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, he was received by Rev.. Metropolitan of Myron Mr. Chrysostom, the members of the Patriarchal Court and clergy of the Holy Archdiocese of Constantinople, as well as the Holy Metropolises of Chalcedon, Derka and Prykiponnisi.
At noon, His Holiness hosted an official dinner in honor of His Beatitude and his entourage at the Patriarchal Bank.