The Annual Memorial Service for the Late Elder Metropolitan John of Pergamon

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was present joined in prayer during the Poly-Hierarchical Divine Liturgy which took place on Saturday, 3 February 2024, and was presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Maximos of Selyvria, with the concelebration of Their Eminences, Metropolitan Andreas of Forty Churches and Metropolitan Theodoros of Seleucia. During this Divine Liturgy the annual memorial service for the repose of the soul of the Late Elder Metropolitan John of Pergamon took place.

Present also for the Divine Liturgy were the following Hierarchs: His Eminence Metropolitan Stephanos of Kallioupolis and Madytos, His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Kydonia, His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of Mexico, and His Grace Bishop Benjamin of Tralee, along with the presence of Archon of the Great Church of Christ, Mr. Konstantinos Delikostantis, Director of the First Patriarchal Office, on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Brotherhood of Archons “Panagia Pammakaristos”, Professor Mr. Emmanuel Karageorgoudis, Dean of the Theological School of Athens, and believers from Constantinople and abroad.

Afterwards, a memorial reception was held, during which His All-Holiness referred to the significant and invaluable contribution of the blessed Hierarch of the Throne, to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, but also to the theological education. As he said, among other things, Metropolitan John of Pergamon was “a precious theological symbol of strength of the Mother Church” and “his theological contribution was unique”. On this occasion, His All-Holiness announced that next November, an International Conference dedicated to the ministry and theological work of the late Elder Metropolitan John (Zizioulas) of Pergamon will be held at the Phanar.

In the afternoon of the same day, the Ecumenical Patriarch officiated at the Vespers Service, at the Venerable Patriarchal Church of Saint George, Phanar.