Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew continues pastoral visit to native isle of Imvros; Thrace visit next month

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All Holiness Bartholomew I, continued a pastoral visit to his native island of Imvros, in the northeast Aegean, this week.

His All Holiness on Wednesday officiated at the Divine Liturgy at the celebrating church in the village of Aghii Theodori, on the occasion of the Apodosis of the Dormition of the Theotokos, the All-Holy Virgin Mary.

In a sermon, the Ecumenical Patriarch reminded that the Theotokos has a central place in the spiritual and liturgical life of the Church, and is also venerated with extraordinary reverence by the faithful.

Moreover, His All Holiness joyously announced that he will travel to the site of the renowned ancient city of Ephesus, on the western shores of Asia Minor, in early October, in order to speak at the basilica dedicated to the Theotokos, which dates from 431, the site where the third ecumenical synod took place.

The synod officially bestowed upon the Virgin Mary the name Theotokos, or Mother of God.

In a related development, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will visit the Thrace province in northeast Greece early next month, and specifically the town of Sapes and the city of Komotini.

The Patriarchal visit comes on the occasion of the arrival of the splendorous and wonder-working icon of the Virgin Mary “Axion Esti” to the region for veneration by the faithful.

The resident Metropolitan of Maronia and Komotini, His Eminence Panteleimon, spoke exclusively to the Orthodoxia news agency this week on the coming arrival of the “Axion Esti” icon and the pastoral visit by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Thrace.

Services and religious events will be live-streamed by the Orthodoxia news agency and the online platform Pemptousia.

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