Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew marks 35th anniversary with service in Istanbul
Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew marked the 35th anniversary of his election as head of the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate with a religious service at St. George’s Church at the Patriarchate in Istanbul.
Bartholomew led the service alongside 10 metropolitans, with a large number of worshippers attending the ceremony.
The patriarch entered the church holding a lit candle, accompanied by the metropolitans. Attendees also lit candles and prayed before entering the church, where prayers were offered and hymns were sung throughout the service.
Bartholomew appeared visibly moved at several points while praying.
GREEK AND UKRAINIAN DIPLOMATS ATTEND
Following the service, Bartholomew delivered a message in Greek to mark the 35th anniversary of his accession to the patriarchal office.
Among those attending were Greece’s Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, Greece’s Consul General in Istanbul Konstantinos Koutras, and Ukraine’s Consul General in Istanbul Heorhii Filatov.
The ceremony commemorated Bartholomew’s decades of leadership of the Patriarchate, based in Istanbul.
