On the occasion of the 51st anniversary of his election as a bishop, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew pointed out that “we will never suffer the flag! Even if we have to taste bitterer cups of ingratitude, even if we suffer worse humiliations, even if stronger, northerly and colder contrary winds blow.”

During his speech after his coronation at the holy church of Agios Dimitrios Sarmasikis in Constantinople and on the occasion of yesterday’s feast of the Great Martyr Sebastian, the Ecumenical Patriarch said emphatically: “We will not for a moment neglect our sacred duty towards the future of the Pansept Ecumenical Throne, nor will we betray her our centuries-old history, nor will we discard the honorable bequest and the sanctified heritage of our fathers”.

The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew also emphasized: “We have asked our Virgin Mother to protect this community and our entire Community here, as well as each one of you, our beloved children in spirit. And we are sure that the Great General and Superintendent of our War, who wants us to remain here in the Theotokopolis of Constantine and to guard its holy pilgrimages and holy places, which are many, will help the Holy Church of Christ and Son of the Great Church to continue the sacrificial ministry of the crew here, of his provinces in the outside Throne, of all Orthodoxy, of inter-Christian dialogues, of inter-religious settlement and of the civilization and peace of the universe”.