Patriarchal Divine Liturgy Celebrated for the Ecumenical Patriarch’s Name Day

Photo: basilica.ro

IMBROS, TURKEY — Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew celebrated his name day on Thursday on his native island of Imbros (Gökçeada), presiding at a Patriarchal Divine Liturgy alongside Patr. Daniel of Romania and Patr. Daniel of Bulgaria in a gathering that also marked the 35th anniversary of his election to the Ecumenical Throne and the 65th anniversary of his ordination.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God in the village of Panagia. Concelebrating hierarchs included Metrs. Emmanuel of Chalcedon, Apostolos of Derkoi, Philotheos of Thessalonica, and Seraphim of Nevrokop; and Abp. Nectarios of Anthedon. This year also marks the centennial of the Metropolitanate of Imbros and Tenedos and 1,000 years of Orthodox witness on the island.

Reflecting on his heavenly patron, the Ecumenical Patriarch said St. Bartholomew “brought different peoples, nations and languages to Christ” and recalled that the apostle “traveled like the apostles to distant lands and worked in a way pleasing to God with the plow of the Gospel, ultimately sealing his preaching through martyrdom.” He also spoke movingly of his personal devotion to the saint.

We always pray to him, with love and devotion, for ourselves and for the Church, and we humbly confess that, in critical moments both for the Church and personally, we have received special help and protection from him.

Addressing the visiting primates, Patr. Bartholomew expressed gratitude for their presence, telling them, “The presence of Your Beatitudes highlights the unbroken bonds of brotherly love in Christ that unite our three Churches.” He added, “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for having graciously accepted our invitation and coming as bearers of the peace of the Lord.”

The Ecumenical Patriarch also explained his decision to celebrate the feast in his birthplace, noting that his “deep love” for Imbros had overcome any hesitation. He highlighted the island’s ongoing revival and said, “Imbros, after many difficult and tearful years, has been striving in recent years, with God's help, through the benevolent support of the authorities of the contemporary Turkish state and through the friendly collaboration of the local administration, to step towards a new social and spiritual flourishing.”

Patr. Daniel of Romania delivered a congratulatory message praising the Ecumenical Patriarch’s international ministry. “Throughout his 35 years of service in the dignity of Ecumenical Patriarch, His Holiness Bartholomew has become an Orthodox personality with spiritual prestige recognized and appreciated internationally,” he said. The Romanian primate also commended his efforts in dialogue, peacebuilding, and environmental stewardship, adding, “Your Holiness's activity internationally shows that the Ecumenical Patriarchate wishes to promote the perennial spiritual values of Orthodoxy in today's world."

The celebrations began the previous evening with Great Vespers in the village church of Agioi Theodoroi, where Patr. Bartholomew welcomed both visiting primates. Speaking there, he remarked, “We praise the God of our fathers for this blessed summer meeting in the beloved Imbros, where we came to celebrate our name days for the first time in our land.” Addressing his guests directly, he thanked them for leaving “your many responsible hierarchal obligations” to visit “a small island, but with a great history.”

Previously, the UOJ reported that Riley M. Barnes met Patr. Bartholomew at the Phanar.

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