Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Patriarch Bartholomew Departs for Asia Minor Service

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has departed from Imbros,Turkey (Gokceada) for the Cyzicos,Asia Minor area of Turkey,where he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy of the Leave-taking of the Dormition of the Theotokos on 23 August 2018.The service will be held in the ruins of the historic nineteenth century Holy Monastery of the Panagia Faneromeni icon,14 kilometers NE of Artaki (Erdek,Turkey).The icon is traditionally held to have been painted by the Apostle and Evangelist Luke.*
Artaki itself is 10 kilometers NW of the ancient city of Cyzicos,which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1063.At that time,Artaki became the see of the Diocese of Cyzicos.The Bishop of Cyzicos had the title "Supreme Exarch of All the Hellespont" and the diocese was fifth in rank of the dioceses of the Ecumenical Throne.In 1905,it was elevated to fourth in rank.*
This will be the fourth time the Turkish authorities have permitted the Divine Liturgy to be celebrated at Panagia Faneromeni.Concelebrating with Patriarch Bartholomew will be His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkida,Greece and His Eminence Metropolitan Meletios of Kathagenis (Patriarchate of Alexandria).

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