The Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord was presided over by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at the Holy Church of Hypsomatheia, which was beautifully decorated for the occasion.
Prior to the Liturgy, the Ecumenical Patriarch blessed the inauguration of the recently renovated church, a project funded and overseen by the Metropolitan Municipality of Constantinople.
Among the attendees were Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu, Paxos and the Diapontian Islands, along with clergy, lay collaborators, pilgrims from the parish of St. Barbara of Ilion, and the faithful of the city.
The sermon was delivered by Archimandrite Kaisarios Chronis, Archivist of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Following the service, Metropolitan Maximos of Silivri and Supervisor of the Hypsomatheia region addressed the Ecumenical Patriarch, who in turn spoke about the significance of the feast day and the presence of Christ among believers.
The Ecumenical Patriarch expressed gratitude to the community for gathering to venerate the Ascended Christ in the renovated church, emphasizing the importance of faith and perseverance in times of joy and sorrow.
He acknowledged the efforts of Metropolitan Maximos, the Metropolitan Municipality of Constantinople, and all those involved in the renovation project, highlighting the spirit of cooperation and unity among different religious and cultural groups in the city.
The Ecumenical Patriarch also praised the Ecclesiastical Committee of the Community for their dedication to maintaining historic churches in Constantinople, underscoring the central role of the Church in the life of the Greek Orthodox community.
Reflecting on the challenges faced by the Church and the Greek community over the years, the Ecumenical Patriarch encouraged the faithful to find strength in their faith and to continue celebrating milestones and traditions together as a resilient and hard-working community.
Glory to God for everything!” The Ecumenical Patriarch commended the Metropolitan of Silivri for his productive work and for organizing the day’s festivities. He also extended a warm welcome to Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu and his distinguished guests, as well as the pilgrims from the Holy Metropolis of Ilion, Acharnes, and Petroupolis. The photos accompanying this article were taken by Nikos Papachristou and translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou.
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