Saturday, August 26, 2023

Ecumenical Patriarch to Visit Orthodox Churches of Finland and Estonia

His All-Holiness Ecumencial Patriarch Bartholomew is to visit the Orthodox Church of Finland from 8-12 September 2023.The visit will celebrate the Centenary of the OCF becoming an Autonomous Church within the Ecumenical Patriarchate.Prior to 1923,the OCF belonged to the Moscow Patriarchate.* On 10 September,Patriarch Bartholomew will preside at the Divine Liturgy in the Uspensky (Dormition) Cathedral Church in the Finnish Capital Helsinki.* Patrairch Bartholomew had previously visited the OCF in 2000,2003,2010 and 2013.The current primate of the OCF is Archbishop Leo of Karelia and All Finland. On 12 September,Patriarch Bartholomew and his entourage will depart for Estonia and a visit to the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church.This visit will celebrate the Centenary of the EAOC becoming an Autonomous Church within the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1923.The EAOC also requested separation from the Moscow Patriarchate at that time.The current primate of the EAOC is Metropolitan Stephanos of Tallin and All Estonia.

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Πατριαρχική Παράκληση, Κουμαριώτισσα - Νιχώρι Βοσπόρου, 10.9.23

Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel Makes Visit to Ukraine

On Wednesday 10 August 2023,His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon made an unannounced visit to Ukraine as a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.He had been invited by His Beatitude Meropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine and His Excellency President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.* Following his visit with Metropolitan Epifaniy,which included a tour of St.Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery;a meeting with Archimandrite Avraamiy,acting vicar of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and former member of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate;and a memorial observance at the Wall of Remembrance in Kyiv,Metropolitan Emmanuel met with President Zelensky.President Zelensky issued the following readout on their meeting:The visit of Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon is a very important sign of support for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people from the Ecumenical Patriarchate.Today,during our conversation,we paid attention to the spiritual independence of Ukraine.We discussed the Ukrainian Peace Formula and the issue of returning children illegally deported from Ukraaine.Thank you for the meaningful meeting and support for our people!*