“Their names will remain engraved in the century, in the consciousness and memory of Rome, here in its historical cradle”, said the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew honored with his high presence the official opening of its renovated and upgraded building Galata Municipal Schoolwhich will now function as Cultural Center of Omogeniaas well as the first important one exhibition hosted in it under the title “Aziz İstanbul”which presents oil paintings and watercolors, depicting the City of the 18th and 19th centuries, and come from the collection of the Athanasios & Marina Martinou Charitable Foundation, as well as Christian relics, from the collection of the Sadberk Hanım Museum of the Vehbi Koç Foundation.
His Holiness, in his speech, expressed his gratitude to Etimol. Lord Exarch Mr. Athanasios Martinos, Political Commander of Mount Athos, and his wife Eugen. Mr. Marina, for the renovation of the historical building complex of Omogenia. “Their names will remain engraved in the century, in the consciousness and memory of Romiosynis, here in its historical cradle“, he emphasized, and thanked them in particular, as well as the also present Edim. Mr. Rahmi Koç and Evgen. cousin of Mr. Semahat Arsel, for their initiative and contribution to the realization of the first exhibition in this new cultural space.
“Today, a new era begins for the Foundation of the Galata City School, which preserves the spirit of education and culture that this expatriate educational institution represented and expressed. The new Cultural Center will remind us of the presence and progress of Romanism here in the City of Cities. We will feel proud of what we inherited from our ancestors, of our institutions and temples, of the ideals and values they embodied. Today, developments and the shrinking population of Homogenia have created new situations and many demands on us who remain on the motherland and are called to manage this precious legacy. And it is certain, that the justified dedication for our ancestors, for their strength and trust in the forces and the future of Rome, is not enough. But it is a trigger and push for to keep our institutions open, functioning, which, in another form, preserves the spirit they once expressed. Certainly, there are solutions, there are the people and the means can be found to meet this debt. We must be united, have common goals and, of course, create opportunities for cooperation, which the great City in which we live clearly offers. Our City, a place of coexistence of people with different cultural backgrounds, invites us to coexist creatively, to discover the value and power of communication, interculturality, cooperation and solidarity. The City must become a model of peaceful coexistence of the different, radiating to the ends of the earth the “culture of solidarity”, the common global values, which are at the core of the great religions and cultures.
These fundamental values exist. They are not to be created, but to be discovered and projected as the common moral and spiritual heritage of all mankind. It has been rightly emphasized by great contemporary people of the spirit that, alongside our struggle for the rescue and cultivation of our special cultural identity and spiritual individuality, we must be interested in the promotion of universal, global values, which are an expression of unity of the human race».
And the Patriarch continued: “We personally, and in our capacity as the representative of the most ancient spiritual institution in this City, our Ecumenical Patriarchate, strive for this purpose, for our own tradition, with respect for other traditions, and for the common fundamental values, which they are a guarantee of a peaceful future for all mankind. With these expectations, we promote dialogue and cooperation between religions, we take care, with many initiatives, to protect the natural environment, to overcome religious fundamentalism, for peace, settlement and cooperation. Problems are solved by joint effort, with mutual trust, with faith in human effort, and with trust in God’s providence, which enlightens the mind and holds our will. Closed in our microcosm, we are of no use to anyone, not even to ourselves.
Thank you all for your presence and your participation in our joy for the new page that opens today for our Foundation, for the new hope. Many thanks to the organizers and coordinators of this wonderful event. We are happy for the Exhibition and express, once again, our wholehearted thanks to the Martinou couple and the Koç family”.
The Patriarch, in his speech, also thanked the partners of the Martinos couple, led by Mr. Grigorios Penelis, and the Tabanlıoğlu company for the responsible and speedy execution of the project, as well as the President of the Board of Directors of the Astikis Foundation Galata Evgen School. Mrs. Mary Komorosano, and its members for their positive contribution and cooperation during the renovation works.
Previously, His Holiness was addressed by Eugen. Mr. Mary Comorosano, and the great benefactor Etimol. Mr. Athanasios Martinos, while Ellogim spoke about the exhibition. Mr. Hülya Bilgi.
Then His Holiness, together with the Martinos couple, Edim. Mr. Rahmi Koç and Evgen. Mr. Semahat Arsel toured the Exhibition.
The inauguration of the new Cultural Center of the Homogenia was attended by Hierarchs of the Throne, clerics of the Patriarchal Court, Lord Officials of the Greek Orthodox Church, the Consuls General of Greece and Ukraine in the City, Eugen. Mr. Georgia Sultanopoulou and Edim. Mr. Roman Nedilskyi, representatives of the Community, representatives of letters and arts, and a host of other guests.
Photo: Nikos Papachristou / Ecumenical Patriarchate
Source: Skai
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