Pat. Bartholomew Speaks with Forchas Family

Pat. Bartholomew and Sophia Forchas. Photo: UOJ and Forchas family

MINNEAPOLIS — Sophia Forchas, who had a bullet lodged in her brain following last month's shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School, is continuing her recovery which has been described as miraculous by both her family and doctors.

A 12-year-old Greek Orthodox Christian, Sophia is a parishioner at St. Mary's in Minneapolis. The young girl whose chances at survival once looked slim recently received a call from Pat. Bartholomew of Constantinople while he was stateside. With the assistance of Met. Nathanael of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, shepherd of the Metropolis of Chicago, Pat. Bartholomew spoke with Sophia and her parents.

"The Patriarch told her that she would do great things in life, that God loves her, and that she is blessed," Met. Nathanael said in his "Met on the Move" blog. "He invited her to Constantinople to be his guest at the Patriarchate and to visit the Hagia Sophia. His few words, spoken with tenderness, gave Sophia and her family hope."

His Holiness held the video call with the Forchas family on the day of his departure from the U.S. and offered belated wishes for Sophia's name day, as St. Sophia was commemorated on the New Calendar on September 17.

Elsewhere in the blog, His Eminence shares what the Forchas family wrote to him:

“Sophia is so proud to be Greek Orthodox. She is an eager learner who wants to know so many things about the faith—its practices, history, and all the wondrous traditions.

"The video call from His All-Holiness to Sophia is of great comfort to us. To receive an invitation to the Hagia Sophia is amazing and something she wants to start planning already. His All-Holiness wished Sophia a happy nameday, prayed for her full and speedy recovery, and prayed for our family. We extend our deepest gratitude, and a tremendous heartfelt thank you from the Forchas Family.”

Previously, UOJ reported that Sophia Forchas has shown remarkable progress, with her condition upgraded from critical to serious, as her family announced on September 12. 

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