The people of Imbros warmly welcomed their fellow citizen, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, as he began his annual spring visit to his hometown on Tuesday, May 28.
Upon his arrival at the island’s port, the Patriarch was greeted by Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros and Tenedos, Metropolitan Kyrillos of Moschonisia, the clergy of the Metropolis, and many faithful of all ages.
After a prayer at the Metropolitan Church of Panagia, the Patriarch expressed his joy for returning to his birthplace, saying, “It is a double joy, together with the joy of Easter and the joy of return. For decades now, every May, without fail, I leave my duties for a few days and visit the island to enjoy the spring with my compatriots. And when it is also Easter time, my joy is doubled, as it is this year.”
“We are blessed to sing ‘Christ is Risen’ together in the Metropolitan Church of our birthplace, where I was ordained a deacon sixty-three years ago,” the Patriarch emotionally noted, urging everyone to “continue on the path of life with love and charity, in the resurrected light and resurrected joy of our Lord.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch then proceeded to his village of Agioi Theodoroi, where he was welcomed with joy and traditional music.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou