With devout reverence and in a strongly emotionally charged atmosphere, the Great Feast of the Mother of God, the Dormition of the Theotokos was celebrated on the Aegean island of Imbros.

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Divine Liturgy which took place at the celebrating Church of the mountain village of Agridia, and was joined in concelebration by Their Eminences, Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros and Tenedos, Metropolitan Kyrillos of Moschonisia, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Myra and His Grace Bishop Parthenios of Antania, Abbot of the Holy Bigorski Monastery, in the Archdiocese of Ohrid.

Monks and Nuns from the Archdiocese of Ohrid, Mr. Maximos Charakopoulos, Member of the Hellenic Parliament and Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, Archons of the Great Church of Christ, representatives of Imbrian Associations and a large number of Imbrians and visitors and faithful from Constantinople and oversees.

The Address of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

His All-Holiness, in his address, pointed out the special piety of the Imbrians towards the person of the Virgin Mary, in whose honour they built five parish churches and dozens of chapels, and emphasised that despite the trials experienced by the people of Imbros, they saved and preserved the island’s Christian culture.

“The Theotokos is the Mother of life and the Mother of us all. We invoke her protection in our sorrows and anxieties, we turn to her in danger, we entrust “all our hope” to her. Tangible proof of the Orthodox mindset and piety of the Imbrians is the fact that honouring the Mother of God occupies a prominent place in their lives.

Five of our parish churches are dedicated to Panagia, a large number of our chapels are honoured in her name, – Panagia Kardamiotissa, Panagia Eleousa, Panagia Balomeni, Panagia Taxidiani, Arassiani, Theotokos, Zoodochos Pigi, Panagia Plaka, Panagia Meidaniotissa and many others-, genuine testimony to the respect of the inhabitants of our island towards the Blessed Virgin Mary. The closeness of the Virgin Mary to her Son makes her the mediator par excellence to the Lord, the one who brings to Him the daily prayer for the salvation of our souls. All this is not just an expression of popular piety, but has a profound theological content and belongs to the core of our Christian faith and identity.

The Imbrian Patriarch feels proud of his compatriots, those who have passed away in peace and those left behind, for their contribution to the formation and rescue of the Christian culture of the island, for many centuries, under usually difficult conditions. The development of human affairs is never idyllic, there is never “free reverence”. Especially for the generation of Imbrians who lived through 1964, “the blackest year” in the history of our island and what followed, we feel special love and appreciation. We honour the courage, patience, endurance and sacrifices of those who stayed in our country during those rocky years.

We say it again: Thanks to them, our villages, our Churches, our presence, our voice, all exist today. We understand and appreciate those who left Imbros for foreign lands. They successfully fought the fight for survival, they broke through, without forgetting their beloved homeland. Many of them, as soon as the conditions started to improve, renovated their houses, started visiting the island with their children. And today, those who have their children in our schools come from these two groups of compatriots. The future of the “ruggered” Imbros is connected to those who saved Imbros in their hearts as an experience, a value, a culture, a compass, as the present and future of their lives.”

Then, His All-Holiness addressed the new generation of his special homeland, while he urged Imbrians everywhere to participate in the Pan-Imbrian Conference, which will take place next September in Athens, congratulating the organisers, the patriotic sponsors and all those working for its preparation.

“We cannot, as it always happens, talk about Imbros and not mention the Imbrian youth. Dear young men and women, it is a privilege to be the bearers and continuers of the long cultural and spiritual tradition of our Imbros, the “small island with a big history”. A privilege, of course, that includes and entails obligations. These include the debt for familiarising and preserving the Christian spirit of Imbros. Also, the duty to visit our island as often as you can. And third, take an active interest in our schools. The restart of expatriate education has succeeded. However, the continuation and positive prospects for the future require taking part, dedication, genuine and practical interest and love. Look after our schools! Nothing can thrive in our lovely homeland without your participation and contribution, our very dear youth, proud children of Imbros.

We will refer more to these issues at the Pan-Imbrian Conference, at the end of September in Athens. Our Conference will be an important event in the course of the struggles for our presence and future in our small homeland. We commend the organisers, the generous and patriotic sponsors, all those who work hard to prepare the Conference and other related events. Imbrians from all around the world, we must offer a great and resounding presence!”.

Concluding his address, His All-Holiness once again expressed his joy at meeting with his compatriots, and welcomed all the friends of Imbros, who with their presence “always strengthen us with their love”. Addressing the Shepherd of the island, Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros and Tenedos, he expressed his Patriarchal satisfaction “for all the church services and cultural events that he organises and again this year, the ‘Theotokeia’ of Imbros and for his tireless pastoral activity”, and following this, then thanked the holy clergy of Imbros and Tenedos for their spiritual contributions.

The Shepherd of the island, His Eminence Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros and Tenedos then addressed His All-Holiness with heartfelt words, followed by the Secretary General of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, Mr. Maximos Charakopoulos.

Immediately after, a procession of the holy icon of the Theotokos took place through the streets of the picturesque village.

After the Divine Liturgy, a traditional Imbrian meal was offered in the Agridia square, where young men and women from the Archdiocese of Ohrid sang and danced in honour of the Ecumenical Patriarch and all the pilgrims.

In the afternoon of the same day, the Patriarch paid a ceremonial visit to the Prefect (Kaymakam) of Imbros.

Photographs: Nikos Papachristou / Ecumenical Patriarchate