On Saturday, February 1, 2025, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew led the Divine Liturgy in honor of the feast of Saint Tryphon at the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Belgradkapı, Constantinople. Saint Tryphon is the patron saint of gardeners, florists, and farmers.
Following the Liturgy, the Ecumenical Patriarch blessed the koliva in memory of Saint Tryphon. Archimandrite Kaisarios Chronis, the Archivist of the Patriarchate, delivered the homily and recited the exorcism prayer of Saint Tryphon for the blessing of gardens and crops.
In his address to the faithful, the Ecumenical Patriarch spoke about the significance of Saint Tryphon’s feast and the special veneration he receives, particularly in rural areas like Imbros, his birthplace.
He reminisced about his childhood celebrations of Saint Tryphon in Imbros, and shared a recent experience of attending the funeral of Archbishop Anastasios in Tirana, emphasizing the importance of building or renovating churches as beacons of hope.
The Ecumenical Patriarch praised Archbishop Anastasios for his dedicated service to the Orthodox Church of Albania, highlighting his achievements in establishing a thriving church community in the country.
He concluded his speech by expressing gratitude to Metropolitan Maximos of Selyvria and the Ecclesiastical Committee for their efforts in serving the community.
Ecumenical Patriarch Meets Cantors of Constantinople
Later in the day, the Ecumenical Patriarch welcomed the cantors of Constantinople to celebrate the New Year with a traditional meal in their honor. Archon A’ Domestikos of the Great Church of Christ, Georgios Kioseoglou, spoke on behalf of the Association of Music Lovers of Pera.
The Ecumenical Patriarch oversaw the monastic tonsure of a new monk, Photios Poulopoulos, a theologian and architect, at the Patriarchal Church on February 1. The monk will be ordained as a deacon on February 6 in honor of Saint Photios, Patriarch of Constantinople. Photos from the ceremony can be viewed below.
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