Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Imbros
On Tuesday evening, 24 October 2023, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived in Imbros to attend the celebrations of Saint Dimitrios and the anniversary event for the completion of 10 years since the reopening of the Greek Minority School on the island.
His All-Holiness was accompanied on this trip by His Eminence Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and all Scandinavia, and Patriarchal Deacon Father Barnabas Grigoriadis.
On Wednesday, the Patriarch paid a ceremonial visit to the new Prefect (Kaymakam) of Imbros, Mr. Nurbaki Yalçın, and the Deputy Mayor, Mr. Ercan İpek.
Late in the evening His All-Holiness with his entourage, along with His Eminence Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros and Tenedos, priests and many believers, together with the new Consul General of Greece in Constantinople, Ambassador Mr. Konstantinos Koutras, made their way to the rural area of Livrochia of the village of Agridia and celebrated Vespers in the celebrating church of Saint Dimitrios which was once the Metochion of the Holy Monastery of Sinai. The Vespers Service was followed by a simple festive banquet, after which the Patriarch left, while the local Shepherd Metropolitan Kyrillos and the holy clergy celebrated the Matins and the Divine Liturgy in the Metochion Church.
On the next day, Thursday 26 October 2023, His All-Holiness officiated at the Divine Liturgy and the celebrating chapel of Saint Dimitrios in the village of Agioi Theodoroi, which was renovated years ago by the Metropolitan of Melitis and later Archbishop Iakovos of America, originally from this village.
After the Liturgy, the Ecumenical Patriarch visited the Primary School, where he also studied in his childhood, and happily communicated with the teachers and students, and then attended a musical event organised by the Imbrian Union of Macedonia-Thrace at the Cultural Association Centre of the village, after which, a festive gathering followed.
In the evening, His All-Holiness blessed the table of the festive gathering for the feast of Saint Dimitrios in the village of Agridia with His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Myra, who is also from the village, who with a short speech greeted the congregation led by the Patriarch, Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros and the Ambassador Mr. K. Koutras.
On Friday afternoon, 27 October 2023, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, along with his entourage, returned to the city of Constantinople.
