Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew paid a historic visit this afternoon to the Holy Monastery of Saint Agathon in the Diocese of Fthiotida.

This is the monastery west of Lamia, where the altar of Saint Vissarion of Agathonitos is exhibited, who by decision of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate has been canonized as Saint.

It is typical that since midday the weather in the area has been unstable with frequent rains and in many cases even hail, however, shortly after 16:00 the weather conditions changed and the Metropolitan of Fthiotida, Simeon, together with dozens of other Metropolitans who were there , welcomed the Ecumenical Patriarch.

In his address, the Metropolitan of Fthiotida emphasized in all tones the special meaning of the visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch, his contribution to the canonization of Saint Bessarion of Agathonitos, while he made special reference to the ethos of the monk, noting at the same time the absolute obedience of our church to the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

He offered the Ecumenical Patriarch an engolpium of Saint Bessarion in memory of his visit, while at the same time the abbot of the monastery and the brotherhood offered an image of Saint Bessarion as a souvenir. Gifts were also offered by the regional governor of Central Greece, Fanis Spanos and the mayor of Lamia, Thymios Karaiskos.

In his rebuttal, His Holiness thanked all those present, especially the ordinary citizens, for the welcome they gave him, he mentioned all the points that are related to Saint Bessarion the Agathonite on his way from Petalidi in Messinia to the monastery of Agathon, making special reference to his works but also to the feelings he has created in the religious public. As he pointed out, he comes to the monastery “as a humble pilgrim for our Saint”.

The Ecumenical Patriarch spoke about the new generation, noting that at the start of his trip to Thessaly in the previous days, a trisago was held in Tempi. “We will always remember the children in Fanario. We remember them especially today. We express our sadness and pain”, he underlined with obvious emotion and tears in his eyes.

His Holiness was welcomed, in addition to Phthiotides, Simeon, and the Metropolitans: Demetriadas and Almyro, Ignatius, Chalkidos, Chrysostomos, Servia and Kozani, Pavlos, Edessa, Pelli and Almopia, Joel, Katanga (Patriarchate of Alexandria), Meletios, Messinia, Chrysostomos, Thebes and Levadeia, Georgios, Krinis and Kalamaria, Kyrillo, Karpenisiou, Georgios, Manis, Chrysostomos, Larissa and Tyrnavos, Ieronymos, Limnos and Agios Efstratiou, Ierotheos. Also, the bishop of Olbia, Epiphanios, was present while the Ecumenical Patriarch was accompanied by the metropolitans of Silivria, Maximos and Smyrna, Bartholomeus.

* File photo – Ecumenical Patriarchate