In a climate of deep emotion and sadness, the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Bartholomew performed today, Wednesday 25 May, a trishagio in front of the grave of his close friend, Blessed Metropolitan of Drama, Mr. Pavlos.
The blessed pastor of Akrita Drama died suddenly on May 2 from an acute myocardial infarction and after his wish he was buried in the holy monastery of the Ascension of the Savior in Taxiarches, where Saint George of Karslides practiced, during whose days he was proclaimed a saint.
After the trishagio, Mr. Bartholomew, addressing the first person, spoke to the blessed metropolitan visibly moved and without being able to hold back his tears in many parts of his speech.
«“I came from the martyr Fanari, as your true friend”, stressed His Holiness, “from the city you loved. I came from where the heart of Pontus, eastern Thrace, Cappadocia, Asia Minor, the Aegean that unites beats. Paul, people like you know how to live and die leventes, standing up, helpless in difficulties, undisturbed in the temptations of power. You had ideals and you served them with truth and love».
“TheI came to your grave “, he continued,” to honor your merciful devotion and friendship to the soul, bringing a few flowers from your homeland Pontus. I came to say thank you for choosing the path of Truth and Honesty. You loved Fanari, Romiosyni and the soils of Pontus».
The Ecumenical Patriarch recalled the pilgrimage they made together to Pontus and the Divine Liturgy they performed on August 15 at Panagia Soumela in Trabzon, emphasizing that the metropolitan of Drama has always been a great man of modesty.
With a promise to his close friend, the blessed metropolitan of Drama, Mr. Bartholomew concluded his speech: “I will always have Pontus in my heart, I will take care of him like my eyes, as bequeathed to me by the Ecumenical Councils. I will take care of him and take care of him. I say goodbye to you with the warmth of the friendship of two saints of Cappadocia, Saint Gregory the Theologian and the Great King “.
At the entrance of the holy monastery, His Holiness Porphyria, the Metropolitan of Naples and Stavroupolis Mr. Barnabas, the Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, the Mayor of Drama and Peripotas Panteleimon. The Metropolitan of Xanthi thanked the Ecumenical Patriarch who paid tribute to the blessed pastor of Drama, but also for his love for his person.
Mr. Bartholomew addressed sincere words of sympathy and consolation to the fleshly relatives of the Metropolitan of Drama, his mother and his sister, even offering them flowers that came from Pontus.
The Ecumenical Patriarch and his entourage arrived this morning at the “Alexander the Great” airport of Kavala on a private flight from Istanbul. At the airport, His Holiness was welcomed by the local pastor, Metropolitan of Philippi, Naples and Thassos Mr. Stefanos and local authorities of Kavala.
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