On 26 May, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate elected Panaretos Psaraftis, Grand Preacher of the Great Church of Christ, as Bishop of Tamissos, appointing him as the Exarch of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in Lithuania.
The ordination of the new bishop was celebrated by the Ecumenical Patriarch at the Patriarchal Church of St George at the Phanar on the Sunday of Pentecost, 31 May 2026.
Bishop Panaretos will travel to Lithuania together with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who is scheduled to visit the local Orthodox community under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on 6–7 June 2026.
The Patriarch and the newly appointed Exarch will concelebrate the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, 7 June, at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Vilnius. Following the Divine Liturgy, His All-Holiness will meet with members of the Orthodox community.
