Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew led the Great Vespers at the Patriarchal Church on November 29, 2024, in honor of Apostle Andrew the First-Called, Founder of the Church of Constantinople.
Following the Vespers, the Ecumenical Patriarch appointed Dr. Vassilios Voudris as Archon Actarius of the Great Church of Christ in recognition of his medical expertise.
During the ceremony, the Ecumenical Patriarch praised the role of doctors in patient care and emphasized the importance of a personal connection between patients and medical professionals.
He also congratulated the new Archon and mentioned the celebration of All the Holy Physicians in October by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
Dr. Voudris expressed his gratitude for the honor bestowed upon him by the Ecumenical Patriarch.
The Ecumenical Patriarch welcomed pilgrims to Constantinople for the Thronal Feast of the Church of Constantinople, celebrating Apostle Andrew.
He acknowledged the presence of the official delegation from the Church of Rome, emphasizing the dialogue of love and truth between the two Churches.
During the Thronal Feast, a reception was held at the Cultural Center of the Greek Diaspora, featuring a musical event organized by the Pannonhalma Archabbey and supported by the Hungarian State.
The Ecumenical Patriarch addressed the attendees in Greek, Turkish, and English, highlighting the importance of unity and peace among nations and cultures.
He spoke about the upcoming 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea and the plans to host the Pope in May 2025 for joint prayers for Church unity.
The Ecumenical Patriarch emphasized the Church of Constantinople’s efforts to promote peace and solidarity, especially in war-torn regions like Ukraine and the Middle East.
He also called for the reopening of the Theological School of Halki, expressing optimism for ongoing consultations with the Turkish authorities.
The School hopes that the ongoing talks will conclude soon so that it can once again focus on education and culture. The musical event and reception were graced by the official Delegation of the Church of Rome, Hierarchs of the Ecumenical Throne and other Churches, representatives of Christian Communities of Constantinople, Deputy Minister of Education of Greece Zetta Makri, a Delegation from the Hungarian State, members of the Diplomatic Corps, expatriates, and numerous other guests from Constantinople and beyond. The event was beautifully captured in photos by Nikos Papachristou. Please rewrite this sentence.
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