Phanar: Feast Day of the Patriarchal Church with the Investiture of a New Archon
In a radiant Paschal atmosphere, on Thursday, 23 April, the All-Venerable Patriarchal Church solemnly celebrated its patron and protector, the Holy Great Martyr George the Trophy-bearer.
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew attended in prayer at the concelebrated Divine Liturgy, at which three hierarchs officiated. The service was presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Andreas of Forty Churches, with the participation of Their Eminences Metropolitan Ioakeim of Bursa and Metropolitan Theodoros of Seleucia.
During the Divine Liturgy, the customary blessing of the five loaves (artoklasia) was offered for the faithful in America, as well as for all the beloved children of the Holy Great Church of Christ throughout the world.
Following the Dismissal, His All-Holiness conferred the Offikion (ecclesiastical title) of Archon Laosynaktis of the Holy Great Church of Christ upon Mr Georgios Papaliaris, a dynamic figure of the Greek diaspora and President of the Historic Community of Stavrodromi, as well as of the Association for the Support of the Greek Community Institutions (ΣΥΡΚΙ).
In his address, His All-Holiness congratulated the new Archon and emphasised that the Church honours with ecclesiastical dignities those persons who distinguish themselves in society through their good works, their concern and labours for the common good, their support of those in need and undergoing various trials, and their selfless contribution to institutions, educational establishments, youth, and society at large.
“Indicatively, certain individuals are selected; yet the Church honours and blesses the toil and contribution of all those who work and offer selflessly, whether their ‘two mites’ or their modest gift,” the Ecumenical Patriarch noted, adding:
“You, Honoured and beloved Mr Papaliaris, we number today among our Archons because you have indeed offered and continue to offer much, labouring tirelessly and unceasingly. As President of the Community of Mega Revma, as President of the Historic Community of Stavrodromi, with a beneficial extension into the field of education of the diaspora, and as the recently re-elected President of the Association for the Support of Greek Community Institutions, we would say that your ‘grace’ reaches even to our humble birthplace, the island of Imbros, where your exemplary presence and contribution to the rebuilding of the local Greek community are keenly felt. We thank you for all these things and recognise and commend your readiness to offer wherever there is need: in supporting less affluent Greek families on the eve of our great feasts of Christmas and Pascha, when you undertake campaigns of love; in hosting pupils and university students who come for shorter or longer periods from Greece or Imbros; and in addressing specific needs of the Mother Church, such as the renovation of the Patriarchal Marasleion Urban School, which now serves as a valuable venue for various activities of the neighbouring Patriarchal House.
For all these good works, beloved Archon, works which pertain to the ministry to the people of God, we have chosen for you the title of Laosynaktis. Adorned with this dignity, we are confident that with even greater zeal, enthusiasm, and effectiveness you will continue your beneficent labours, being ‘blameless’ (cf. 1 Tim. 3:10) and ‘glorifying your ministry’ (cf. Rom. 11:13), as the Epistle to the Romans says.”
His All-Holiness further noted that, as of this day, the new Archon becomes a member of the Brotherhood of Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, “Panagia Pammakaristos,” and, concluding his address, remarked:
“Archon, African wisdom says: ‘If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others.’ You have charted your course not with one but with many, with all, and thus all love, esteem, and many are grateful to you. Because you possess this collective and communal spirit, you go far and see far, according to the African proverb. May ‘the Lord of work’ be with you and richly bless the works of your hands. Axios!”
In his reply, the newly-appointed Archon, visibly moved, expressed his filial gratitude to His All-Holiness for the great honour bestowed upon him.
Subsequently, the Patriarch distributed red Paschal eggs to the faithful.
Also in attendance were the hierarchs: Their Eminences Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, Elder Metropolitan Dimitrios of the Princes’ Islands, Metropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia, Metropolitan Eirinaios of Myriophyton and Peristasis, Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Myra, Metropolitan Stephanos of Kallioupolis and Madytos, Metropolitan Athenagoras of Kydonia, Metropolitan Bartholomew of Smyrna, and Metropolitan Gregorios of Ankara; as well as Their Graces Bishop Adrianos of Halicarnassus and Bishop Benjamin of Trallee, clergy, the Ambassador Mr Konstantinos Koutras, Consul General of Greece in Constantinople, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate headed by the Archon Didaskalos of the Nation Mr Konstantinos Delikostantis, Director of the First Patriarchal Office, representatives of the Board of the Brotherhood of Archons “Panagia Pammakaristos,” community leaders, and a large number of faithful from Constantinople and pilgrims from abroad.
Photographs: Nikos Papachristou
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