Under the presidency of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate convened on Tuesday, 2 December 2025. During the session, the Synod began examining the matters listed on the agenda and took the appropriate decisions regarding them.
As stated in the official communiqué: “Upon the recommendation of His All-Holiness, and following the canonical voting held in the Most Sacred Patriarchal Cathedral, the Grand Protosyncellus Gregorios was unanimously elected Metropolitan of Ankara. On the same day, the Small and Great Messages of the newly-elected Hierarch were performed, during which he received the heartfelt congratulations of the venerable Primate, the esteemed Hierarchs, the Patriarchal Court, and all present.
The ordination of His Grace Metropolitan-elect will take place in the Most Sacred Patriarchal Church of Saint George on Sunday, the 14th of this month of December 2025.”
Furthermore, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the lifting of the mutual anathemas between the Churches of Rome and Constantinople (7 December 1965), it was decided that on the coming Sunday, the 7th of this month, a festal Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in the Most Sacred Patriarchal Cathedral, with Patriarchal and Poly-Hierarchal concelebration and a Service of Doxology, during which the venerable Primate of the Church will deliver a timely homily.
Photographs: Nikos Papachristou
