His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch, Mr. Bartholomew, who is making an official six-day visit from today to the Holy Metropolises of Philippi, Neapolis and Thassos, and Maroneia and Komotini, following the invitations of their Reverend Pastors.
During his visit to Thassos and Kavala, the Ecumenical Patriarch will be flanked by His Beatitude the Archbishop of Athens and all Greece, etc. Hieronymus, and Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine etc. Superficial.
His Holiness is accompanied by the Most Reverend Metropolitans of Kydonia Mr. Athenagoras and Mr. Kallinikos of Kastoria, the Most Reverend Bishop of Xanthoupolis Mr. Paisios, Panosiol. M. Ecclesiarch Mr. Aetios, the Hierol. Patriarchal Deacon Mr. Hieronymos Sotirelis, Mr. Nikolaos-Georgios Papachristou, Director of the Patriarchal Press and Communication Office, and Mr. Panagiotis Grafiadelis and George Zeitinlou, from the employees of the Patriarchate.
The Patriarchal Commissioner was appointed the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Geron Derko, Mr. Apostolos, who together with Panosiol. M. Protosygello Mr. Theodoros escorted His Holiness from the airport of the city.
The pilgrimage in question takes place on the occasion of the first official celebration of the Synod of the Six Saints of Thassos (Lukas, Daniel, John, Euphrosynos, Euthymios, Haidos) and will include specific church and cultural events in Thassos, Chrysoupoli and Kavala.
His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Bartholomew, with Rev. Metropolitan of Philippi, Neapolis and Thassos Mr. Stefanos, shortly before arriving in Thassos. Photo: N. Papachristou / Ecumenical Patriarchate
Both the Ecumenical Patriarch and the two Beatitudes are visiting the Holy Metropolis of Philippi, Neapolis and Thasos at the invitation of the relevant Pastor Metropolitan Mr. Stefanos. Speaking to APE – MPE, His Holiness spoke of a highly honorable visit to the apostolic Metropolis of Philippi, the place from which the Apostle Paul preached the Gospel for the first time, founding the first church in Greece and Europe and baptizing the first European Christian , the co-apostle Lydia of Philippi.
The Metropolitan Mr. Stefanos estimates that the visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch and the two Beatitudes has both a symbolic and historical character for the apostolic Metropolis of Philippi and especially for the island of Thassos which will celebrate with all solemnity and enthusiasm the memory of the six local saints of, on the first Sunday of September as has been established.
“Our saints”, notes the Metropolitan, “who lived or passed through this blessed island of ours, which is rich in culture, in its religiosity, in its piety and in its history, from antiquity to our days, are the protectors and guardians of this hallowed place”.
The program of the visit
The program on the island of Thassos includes various religious and honorary events by the island’s municipality and local bodies such as the declaration of them as honorary citizens and the naming of the beach road of Limenaria after “Patriarch Bartholomew”.
On Sunday morning, His Holiness and the Blessed will concelebrate in the historic Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos Panagia of Thassos.
On Monday and Tuesday the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Metropolitan of Kyiv will visit Kavala where they will participate in various religious and cultural events organized in their honor by the municipalities of Kavala and Nestos and local bodies.
The program in detail:
- SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2022
12.00 You arrive at IMFNTH. (Chrysoupolis Airport).
12.15 Departure from Keramot via Thason.
13.00 Affixis * Reception of the Most Holy and Blessed at Limenas Thassos * Reception of a holy icon of the Synagogue of Saints in Thassos.
14.00 Doxology at the Holy Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Panagia Thassos.
19.00 Laying of the foundation stone of the new Camps of the Holy Metropolis of the Greek Orthodox Church in Skala Rachoni, Thassos.
20.00 Anagoreus of the Panagiotatos and the Beatitudes in Honorable Citizens of the Municipality of Thassos – Event.
- SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2022
07.00 Orthros and the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy in the holy Church of the Assumption of the Theotokos Panagia Thassos.
18.00 Pilgrimage to the Holy Dormition Monastery of Thassos.
19.30 Street naming ceremony in Limenaria Thassos.
- MONDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2022
CHRYSOUPOLIS
11.00 Anagoreusis of His Holiness and His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kyiv to Honorable Citizens of the Municipality
Nesto. Presentation of the Album “Holy Theological School of Halki – 50 years of silence, anticipation, hope”.
12.30 Laying of the foundation stone of the Holy Cemetery Church in Chrysoupolis Nestos.
KAVALA
17.30 Doxology at the Cathedral Church of the Apostle Paul in Kavalan.
18.15 Digital presentation of a) Archives of the Holy Metropolis “Philippesion Christoupolis” and b) Exhibition of icons and relics in the Archaeological Museum of Kavala.
19.30 Visit to the Holy Monastery of Agios Apostolos Sila, Kavala * Trisayon on the tomb of the Blessed
Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Church, Mr. Prokopios * Presentation of the Volume of Circular Letters of the blessed Metropolitan of the Greek Orthodox Church, Mr. Prokopios.
21.00 Musical Event for Youth in the ancient Theater of Philippi.
- TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2022
10.00 You visit the Kavala District.
10.30 Events of the Chamber of Kavala at the Archaeological Museum.
11.30 Event of the Municipality of Kavala at the Great Club of Kavala.
12.30 Visit to the International University of Greece * Kavala.
a) Honor to the Panagiotaton and the Blessed under the International University of Greece (DIPAE).
b) Inauguration of His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Bartholomew as Honorary Doctorate of the Department of Forestry of DIPAE.
c) Consecration of His Beatitude Archbishop of Athens Mr. Hieronymos as Honorary Doctorate of the Department
of Physics of DIPAE.
16.00 Pilgrimage to the Holy Baptistery of Agia Lydia in Philippi * Announcement of the start of international conferences.
16.30 Departure.
