On the Sunday of the Blind Man, June 9, 2024, with the blessing and encouragement of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Metropolitan Stefanos of Tallinn and All Estonia presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church.
Following the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the Ecumenical Patriarch conferred the Offikion of Archon Eutaxias of the Holy Great Church of Christ upon Simeon Diamantidis. Diamantidis, a businessman from Constantinople and Propontida, is the Chairman of the Board of the Greek Exporters Association and hails from Nea Michaniona, Thessaloniki.
In his homily, the Ecumenical Patriarch highlighted that the history of the Archons of the Throne is marked by numerous achievements and contributions. He expressed his pride in the Mother Church for recognizing Archons as willing and capable partners.
Addressing the new Archon, he praised his contribution to the preservation of the historic icon of Panagia Faneromeni of Nea Michaniona, the sister icon of our Lady Faneromeni of Kyzikini, which is kept in the Patriarchal Church.
“We are particularly moved by the fact that he is honored today as a child of the Bosphorus and the Propontis, who has not forgotten his origins, honors his roots, and preserves the sense of the values of Greekness. A human being is not only a “citizen of the world,” but also a “citizen of heaven,” a being of divine origin and eternal destiny. We do not live “on bread alone.” When individuals close themselves off to others and focus solely on earthly bliss, their existence shrinks, their creative powers dry up, and the horizon of their lives narrows. Faith in God fundamentally supports individuals, facilitating the management of both the challenges of life and borderline situations.”
Archpriests, such as Sotirios of Canada, Chrysostomos of Myra, Theodoritos of Laodicea, Tikhon of OCA, Eugenios of Crete, Ambrosios of Korea, Nathanael of Kos and Nisyros, Justin of Nea Krini and Kalamaria, Chrysostomos of Symi, Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, Theodoros of Seleucia, Andrianos of Halicarnassus, Lutheran Archbishop Urmas Viilma of Tallin, who is also President of the Estonian Council of Churches, clergymen, Archons of the Great Church of Christ, Consul of Ukraine Maxim Vdovichenko, relatives of the new Archon, believers from Constantinople and pilgrims from abroad attended the service.
Photos: Nikos Papachristou
