Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew celebrates name day; Archbishop of Ohrid Stefan arrives at Phanar

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All Holiness Bartholomew I, celebrated his name day today, Friday, a day ahead of the annual June 11 feast day of the Apostle Bartholomew, given that tomorrow coincides with the Saturday of Souls.

The celebration of His All Holiness’ name day came in the presence of the visiting Archbishop of Ohrid, His Beatitude Stefan, and numerous hierarchs of the Patriarchal throne.

A great Vespers was held on Thursday at the Holy Monastery of Balukli, where the Ecumenical Patriarch officiated.

In pastoral words to the faithful, His All Holiness expressed satisfaction over a resumption of the Eucharistic communion with the Archbishopric of Ohrid, while calling for past historical mistakes not to be repeated, ones that arose from the heresy of ethno-racialism, a threat to Orthodox unity.

In a related item, the Ecumenical Patriarch will be declared an honorary citizen of Ioannina, in northwest Greece, during his visit to the lakeside city next week.

The Primate of the Mother Church will also bless the opening of a new cathedral dedicated to St. Paisios and the naming of a municipal square in memory of the saint.

Source: orthodoxianewsagency.gr