Official visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch to the historic Church of San Lorenzo in Florence
The historic Basilica of San Lorenzo (St. Lawrence) in Florence was visited by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with his Entourage. The Basilica of Saint Lawrence is the city’s first cathedral, the first place of Christian worship built in the Medici city. It was the first seat of the bishops of the city, from where the evangelisation of the wider region of Tuscany began. The Church was consecrated by Saint Ambrose, bishop of Milan, who dedicated it to the Saint Archdeacon and Martyr Laurentios (Lawrence).
His All-Holiness and his Entourage were received at the entrance of the Basilica by the Most Reverend Archbishop – Metropolitan of Florence Cardinal Giuseppe Betori, by the Superior of the Basilica (Priore Mitrato della Basilica di San Lorenzo) Mons. Marco Domenico Viola and the Canons of the Church. After the customary prayer, His All-Holiness and the members of his entourage had the opportunity to take a tour of the interior of the Church and the Chapel Cappelle Medicee, where the burial complexes of the Medici family are also located. Then an official dinner was held in honour of His All-Holiness and the members of his Entourage.
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