Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew: “The clergyman does not belong to himself, but to Christ and his brother”

On Thursday, 6 February 2025, the Ecumenical Patriarchate commemorated Saint Photios, Patriarch of Constantinople, the founder of the Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Halki, where the historic Theological School of Halki is housed.

For the first time since the School’s closure in 1971, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy at the Katholikon of the Monastery. Concelebrating the Liturgy were Their Eminences, Elder Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi and Metropolitan Andreas of Forty Churches.

During the Divine Liturgy, the Ecumenical Patriarch ordained Subdeacon Photios Poulopoulos, a theologian and architect, to the diaconate. Deacon Fotios will serve in the Patriarchal Court.

Following the Liturgy, the Patriarch delivered a homily in the Ceremony Hall of the School, reflecting on the legacy of Saint Photios, who founded the Monastery of the Holy Trinity in the 9th century, as well as on the contribution of Ecumenical Patriarch Germanos, who established the Theological School of Halki in 1844.

“The School was the theological headquarters of the Great Church,” the Patriarch stated, emphasising its role in preparing seminarians for ministry and transmitting the spirit and ethos of the Phanar.

Reflecting on the spiritual and intellectual stature of Saint Photios, he described him as:

“The unwavering champion of the Ecumenical Throne, the fearless defender of Orthodoxy and canonical tradition, an equal to the apostles and a visionary missionary, a skilled diplomat, an enlightened guardian of Greek letters and ancient spiritual heritage, a theologian of great depth, a true bearer of the Church’s synodal identity, and a faithful servant of divine decrees. The ever-living Patriarch of the Orthodox world.”

He further highlighted the significance of Saint Photios’ legacy in the Synod of Constantinople (879-880) and its relevance today, especially in light of the upcoming 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea.

In another part of his address, Patriarch Bartholomew stressed the importance of theological education, stating:

“Strong theological training, constantly enriched through deep study, together with complete dedication to Christ and service to His people, form the spiritual armor that enables clergy to fulfill their sacred mission. The Church needs devout and enlightened clergy—faithful to their calling and to Church tradition, with an Orthodox mindset and a modern spirit, possessing a keen sense of duty and deep compassion for humanity, ‘for whom Christ died.’”

The Ecumenical Patriarch then addressed paternal words of edification and admonition to the new deacon:

“You bear the honorable name of this Holy and Great Patriarch, dear Deacon Photios. The Holy Monastery of the Holy Trinity founded by him, the Holy Church of the Holy Trinity and the Theological School of Halki, which looks forward with righteous hope to its reopening, will remain in your memory and heart as the holy place where you received the grace of the first degree of priesthood, becoming a deacon of the Lord and His people, a clergyman of the pre-eminently diaconal Holy Great Church of Christ. The Ecumenical Throne, in the course of history, “has never been a more important seat of ministry,” as our spiritual father, the Late Metropolitan Meliton of Chalcedon, said in his sermon at the ordination of a deacon, reminding the one being ordained of the following excellent things: “To what extent people will honour you, this is unknown and uncertain. One thing alone is certain, that if you faithfully serve Christ, and serve in His identification with the least of all people, His brother, then the Father will honour you: ‘If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him’ (John 12:26). This is the certain and definitive justification of your ministry.” (Chalcedonia, pp. 51 and 52.)

All members of the sacred clergy of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, from the Patriarch to the newly ordained deacon, have a common view of our identity and sacred mission, we are bearers of the same spirit. We know the height and responsibility of the ministry of the good worker in the vineyard of Christ, which is essentially connected with a sacrificial ethos, with readiness for unconditional offering, with dedication of soul and body to the common duty.

The clergyman does not belong to himself, but to Christ and to his brother. Our brother is always the specific humanbeing and not an impersonal and abstract idea of humanity. Our Lord Jesus Christ called us to become “neighbour” to every person who needs our support and named as the criterion of our salvation or loss the way we behave towards the “hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick or in prison” brother and sister, with whom he himself identifies. This absolute priority of love made Christianity the greatest value revolution in the history of humanity, which causes admiration even among agnostics and deniers of the faith.

We reflect at this moment that the ministry of the Church is like a construction of a building, which requires from all those participating and working full dedication to the common goal and careful coordination. The outcome of the entire undertaking depends on the common effort, but also on the quality of each one’s contribution. Always, of course, the one who calls is the Lord, who is always active in us “for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). The “in us” is the acceptance of the divine gift and the effort to preserve and multiply the charism, running “with patience the race that is set before us”, always “ looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Heb. 12:2)”.

The Patriarch also expressed his gratitude to the President and members of the Ephorate of the Monastery of the Holy Trinity, as well as to the Abbot, the monastic brotherhood, and the laity for their dedicated service.

Prior to the Patriarch’s homily, His Grace Bishop Kassianos of Aravissos, Abbot of the Monastery, and His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Apostolos of Derkoi, President of the Monastery’s Ephorate, delivered remarks. The newly ordained Patriarchal Deacon Photios Poulopoulos also gave his ordination speech, expressing gratitude for his new ministry.

Later that afternoon, returning from Halki, the Ecumenical Patriarch visited the Cemetery of St. Ignatius of Chalcedon, where he performed a Trisagion service at the grave of the late Metropolitan Photios of Herakleia, of Imbros and Tenedos, praying for the repose of his soul. The Patriarch also offered prayers for his relative from Imbros, Archimandrite Photios Georgiadis, who served as a priest for many years and fell asleep in the Lord in Romania.

The commemoration of Saint Photios at the Monastery of the Holy Trinity marked a significant spiritual and historical moment, reaffirming the deep theological and ecclesiastical legacy of the Theological School of Halki, while celebrating the enduring influence of Saint Photios in Orthodoxy.

Photographs: Nikos Papachristou (The photos from the Trisagion for the Late Metropolitan of Herakleia come from the Holy Monastery of Chalcedon)