Sunday of Orthodoxy at the Phanar

On Sunday, March 5, 2017, His All-Holiness concelebrated Divine Liturgy for the first Sunday of Lent, the Sunday of Orthodoxy, together with Their Eminences Metropolitans Demetrios of Sevasteia, Eirenaios of Myriophyton and Peristasis, Chrysostomos of Myra, Gennadios of Sassima, Nikiforos of Kinshasa, Maximos of Selyvria, and His Excellency Metropolitan Theoklitos of Vresthenis. During the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Ierotheos, Abbot of the Sacred Patriarchal and Stavropegial Orthodox Monastery of Saint Irene Chrysovalantou, in Astoria, New York, was consecrated as Bishop of Eukarpia.

His Eminence Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna, Acting Chief Secretary of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Holy and Sacred Synod, delivered a panegyric homily for the Sunday of Orthodoxy.

Following the Divine Liturgy, His All-Holiness, together with the newly consecrated Bishop and the other concelebrating hierarchs, offered a Trisaghion for the repose of the souls of all those who have struggled and given their lives for the Orthodox faith. The Patriarch then led a procession of holy icons with the Hierarchs, clergy and faithful into the courtyard of the Venerable Patriarchal Church, where His All-Holiness blessed those gathered from the balcony of the Patriarchal House.

Also present during the Divine Liturgy was an official delegation from the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) of the Roman Catholic Church, comprised of His Eminence Angelo Cardinal Bagnasco, President of the CCEE, His Eminence Péter Cardinal Erdö, former President of the CCEE, and Monsignor Duarte da Cunha, Secretary General of the CCEE. The delegation arrived in Istanbul Saturday evening, March 4, 2017, attended the Divine Services on Sunday and then a reception afterwards, during which the Patriarch greeted the members of the delegation, welcoming them and making special mention of the joint Forums that have been taking place for a number of years between the CCEE and the Orthodox Bishops in Europe. The Roman Catholic delegation was also received by His All-Holiness for an audience and attended the official festal luncheon.

Source: patriarchate.org