Phanar head and Patriarch of Alexandria concelebrate with Dumenko in Imbros

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of Patriarch Bartholomew’s priesthood. Photo: orthodoxtimes.com

On August 13, 2021, the Patriarchs of Constantinople and Alexandria concelebrated with Epiphany Dumenko at the festive liturgy on the island of Imbros (Turkey), the place of origin of the Ecumenical Patriarch. The service was broadcast live on the Facebook pages of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the OCU.

Celebrations on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Patriarch Bartholomew’s priesthood were held at St. George’s Church. Besides Patriarch Theodore and "Metropolitan" Epiphany, the head of the Phanar was concelebrated by Metropolitan Panteleimon of Maroneia (representative of the Church of Greece) and Metropolitan Nektarios of Kition (representative of the Church of Cyprus), who were delegated by their primates.

Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon and “Archbishop” Evstratiy Zoria of the OCU attended prayerfully the service.

The day before, Patriarch Theodore and the head of the OCU attended the evening service, which was led by the Patriarch of Constantinople.

As the “Orthodox Times” reports, “the Vespers service was held, with the Ecumenical Patriarch speaking with kind words about the two hierarchs who were next to him". 
Speaking after the end of the Vespers, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew spoke about the hierarchs who were in the Church. He referred to the Patriarch of Alexandria Theodore as his “close associate” "who supported the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Ecumenical Patriarch not only in the Holy Synod of Crete in 2016 but also with the recognition of the Autocephaly of the Church of Ukraine, as Archbishops Ieronymos of Greece and Chrysostomos of Cyprus did".

The head of the Phanar called Epiphany "a new leader of the Orthodox Church" while he stressed that he (the Ecumenical Patriarch) “responded to the request of the millions of Orthodox in the country and granted the Tomos of Autocephaly to the Church of Ukraine”. Patriarch Bartholomew also recalled his upcoming visit to Kyiv.

As reported, the OCU is organizing a "pilgrimage" to the liturgy of the Phanar head in Kyiv while UOC believers launched a flash mob "Bartholomew, we did not invite you".

Read also

Pat. Daniel and Pat. Bartholomew Meet in Greece

The two patriarchs discussed spiritual ties, theological education and the hope for the re-opening of the Halki School.