Service of the Holy Passion of the Lord at the Patriarchal Church in the Phanar

On the afternoon of Holy Thursday, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Service of the Holy Passion at the Patriarchal Cathedral of Saint George in the Phanar.

In accordance with tradition, the Ecumenical Patriarch commenced the reading of the first of the 12 Gospel passages, which was then followed by Metropolitans Athenagoras of Vizi, Meliton of Philadelphia, Eirinaios of Myriophytos and Peristasis, Chrysostomos of Myra, Theoliptos of Iconium, Ioakeim of Bursa, and Theodoros of Seleucia.

Then, the Grand Protosyncellus Archimandrite Gregory, Archimandrite Bosporios, Chief Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, and Grand Ecclesiarch Archimandrite Aetios, Director of the Private Patriarchal Office, took part. Lastly, the twelfth gospel was read, according to protocol, by Grand Archdeacon Alexandros.

The atmosphere at the Patriarchal Cathedral and throughout the entire Patriarchate was imbued with profound emotion during the procession of the Holy Cross.

A large number of believers from Constantinople and abroad attended the service.

On the morning of Holy Thursday, the Great Protosyncellus led the Vespers and the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great at the Patriarchal Church, with the assistance of the Secondary Deacon Kallinikos.