Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon presides at the Church of the Holy Three Hierarchs in Budapest
On Sunday, 6 September, a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the newly built Church of the Holy Three Hierarchs in Budapest, presided over by His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon. His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the visiting Hierarchs who were present as guests joined prayerfully from within the Holy Altar.
In his homily, His Eminence Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, reflected upon the Parable of the Wedding Feast, noting that the Gospel image of the banquet prepared by the host for his son reveals the mystery of the divine invitation. God’s invitation is extended to all, and the Church goes forth to the crossroads of the world, encountering peoples, cultures, traditions and religious communities.
Within this context, His Eminence placed particular emphasis upon the significance of the “Fanarion – Orthodox Christian Centre for Dialogue”, which now constitutes a new place of Orthodox presence and witness in the heart of Budapest. As he emphasised, the Phanar has throughout the centuries constituted both a place and a way through which Orthodoxy engages in dialogue with the contemporary world, while preserving alive its identity and tradition.
His Eminence made particular reference to the “wedding garment”, which he associated with love. Our presence within the Church attains its fullness when it is accompanied by love, which transforms dialogue into genuine encounter and hospitality into communion between persons.
Referring to the three great patrons of the Holy Church—Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint John Chrysostom—the Elder Metropolitan of Chalcedon highlighted the manner in which the Three Hierarchs engaged with the learning and culture of their age. They demonstrated the possibility of entering into dialogue with the world with boldness and respect, discerning those elements capable of serving truth and the life of the Church. This sacred legacy also inspires the ministry of the new Centre for Dialogue in Budapest.
His Eminence subsequently expressed the joy and gratitude of the Mother Church for the completion of the project, making particular mention of the many years of care, labour and perseverance of His Eminence Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria and Exarch of Hungary and Central Europe. He noted that Metropolitan Arsenios’ presence in Hungary, his constant communication, careful planning and patience contributed decisively to the realisation of this vision, which has now taken tangible form in a Church, a Holy Altar and a Centre for Dialogue.
At the same time, His Eminence expressed heartfelt gratitude to the associates of the Metropolitan of Austria, as well as to the Hungarian authorities for their generous contribution and their respect for the Orthodox faith. The building which houses this new spiritual centre was granted by Hungary to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, while its renovation was undertaken with substantial financial assistance from the then Hungarian Government.
Concluding his homily, Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, prayed that, through the intercessions of Saint Basil the Great, Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint John Chrysostom, the Eucharistic table of the new Holy Church may always remain full, and that all who enter this house may bear the “wedding garment”—the love which unites the human person with God and with one’s fellow human beings.
The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy constituted a continuation of the joyful and historic presence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Orthodox Church in Budapest, establishing the new Church of the Holy Three Hierarchs and the “Fanarion” Centre as places of prayer, communion and dialogue.
Photographs: Ficsor Márton
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