Sheparding Western Europe: Ecumenical Patriarch to the Benelux - Updated

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is embarking on an extended visit to the Benelux, arriving in Amsterdam on 5 November 2019.It is his first visit to the Metropolis of Belgium,Exarchate of the Netherlands and Luxembourg in 25 years.The journey marks the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Metropolis by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.*
Leading the Metropolis today is His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras.It consists of 39 parishes in the Benelux Region.Metropolitan Athenagoras is the permanent Representative of all Orthodox to the governments of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.He also is Chairman of the Orthodox Bishops' Conference of Benelux (CEOB), which was created by a decision of the 4th Pan-Orthodox Pre-Conciliar Conference in Chambesy, Geneva, Switzerland in June 2009.Members of CEOB will meet with Patriarch Bartholomew during his visit.*
Patriarch Bartholomew will visit Dutch parishes, including St.Katherine in Amsterdam and St.Nicholas in Rotterdam,as well as attend an Ecological Symposium.*
On 10 November, the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy will be served for the fiftieth anniversary of the Metropolis at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Brussels.After the liturgy,a reception and luncheon will be held.On 11 November,a Gala dinner for the anniversary will take place in Brussels at the Steigenberger Wiltehers,Loui Bar and Restaurant at 7:30 pm.*
The Patriarchal visit to the Benelux will conclude in the Duchy of Luxembourg on 14 November.*
Update:
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrived in Amsterdam on 5 November.He spoke at the International Water Week ecological symposium and consecrated the Church of St.Katherine.*

Leaders the Patriarch will meet during his visit to the Benelux include King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands;King Phillipe of Belgium; Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg; and the Vice-President of the European Commission Margarita Schinas.*

On 14 November, Patriarch Bartholomew will depart Luxembourg for Venice, where he will address a Byzantine studies conference on "Ecumenical Hellenism in Venice".Finally,he will arrive back in Constantinople on 16 November.

King Philippe of Belgium Attends Orthodox Divine Liturgy

On 17 March 2019,His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium attended the Divine Liturgy of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the first Sunday of Great Lent,at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel in Brussels.The Liturgy also marked the beginning of the celebration of the Orthodox Metropolis of Belgium's 50th anniversary.His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium,Exarch to the Netherlands and Luxembourg (Ecumenical Patriarchate) presided.*
The Metropolis has around 40 parishes using​ various languages and served by over 50 priests.*
Concelebrating with Metropolitan Athenagoras were His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Kyrineia (Church of Cyprus) and His Excellency Bishop Dositheos (Church of Georgia),as well as other clergy from Orthodox jurisdictions in Belgium.
Metropolitan Athenagoras is the sole official representative of the Orthodox Church to the Belgian government.The Orthodox Church was officially recognised by Belgium in 1985.There are a total of about 150,000 Orthodox Christians in Belgium.*
King Philippe's visit was the first by a Belgian monarch to an Orthodox church since King Baudoin's visit to the Church of St.Andrew the Apostle in Ghent in 1980. Also attending the Divine Liturgy with King Philippe were His Eminence Jozef Cardinal de Kesel, Archbishop of Mechelen and Brussels;Mr.Koen Geens, Minister of Justice and Religion; Greek Ambassador to Belgium Eleftheria Galathianaki; and diplomats from various other Orthodox countries,along with a large number of faithful.*
In his address, Metropolitan Athenagoras noted that the Orthodox Church:
has received a place in our society and works in harmony with other Christian Churches and monotheistic religions.