His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, at noon on Clean Monday, 23 February, received, in accordance with the established order, the Hierarchs of the Throne serving in Constantinople, with whom he exchanged brotherly greetings in mutual forgiveness on the occasion of the beginning of Holy and Great Lent.
Subsequently, His All-Holiness presided from the parathronion in the venerable Patriarchal Church during the sacred service of the Great Compline on Clean Monday.
Cheesefare Sunday and the First Lenten Vespers at the Phanar
On Cheesefare Sunday, 22 February, His Eminence the Patriarchal Commissioner, Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, presided at the Divine Liturgy, at which faithful from Constantinople were present, along with numerous pilgrims from abroad.
After the Gospel reading, the Under-Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod, Deacon Ecumenios, read the Catechetical Homily of the Ecumenical Patriarch for the commencement of Holy and Great Lent.
In the afternoon of the same day, His Eminence Metropolitan Theodoros of Seleucia presided at the First Lenten Vespers, the Vespers of Forgiveness, celebrated in the venerable Patriarchal Church.
On the previous day, Saturday afternoon, following Vespers at which he presided, the Patriarchal Commissioner served a Trisagion service for the repose of the soul of the late Metropolitan Dimitrios, former Metropolitan of Xanthi.
