His Holiness referred to the extensive damage caused by the catastrophic fire, which, he said, constitutes a new test for the Unity of the City.
In an overwhelming atmosphere, the Divine Transfiguration of Christ the Saviorin the First Principality, where o Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew officiated, yesterday, August 6, 2022, during the Divine Liturgy that was celebrated in the eponymous Patriarchal and Stavropigian Monastery of the island, making special reference to the Greek Nursing Home of Balouklis, which a few days ago surrendered to the flames.
His Holiness referred to the extensive damage caused by the catastrophic fire, which, as he said, is a a new test for the Unity of the City.
“We also wish from this position to express our heartfelt praise to the Lord for preventing casualties, as well as our sincere thanks to all those who rushed to the scene of the fire from the very first moment, to contribute in any way able to limit the spread and extinguish it, from the representatives of the state and self-governing authorities to the simple, but truly heroic, volunteers. Their interest, concern, love, in a word, their humanity, moved us deeply and proved in practice the importance of building a culture of solidarity, one of the fundamental priorities of our humble Patriarchy. And to the dear residents of the Nursing Home, whom we visited yesterday at the public hospital “Prof. Dr. Murat Dilmemer”, where they were immediately transferred, we express once a year the undivided support and unflinching concern of the Mother Church, as well as the assurance that, with the grace and help of God, through the embassies of the Saints Anargyri, all together , united as one fist, we will manage in a short time to rebuild our Nursing Home and get it up and running again!».
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Holiness blessed, according to tradition, the grapes, and immediately afterwards he performed Trisagio for the repose of the soul of M. Benefactor of the Genus Simeon Siniosoglou, in front of his tomb, which is located in the courtyard of the Monastery. On the occasion of the completion of the renovation works of the Catholic Church of the Monastery, he unveiled a commemorative wall marble inscription.
Afterwards, a small celebratory event was held with the “protagonists” of the children of the camp, during which the Patriarch was welcomed by Maria Apostolidou, president of the Board of Directors. of Peidopoleos and the Youth Worker’s Shelter, and Archon Primikirios Adamantios Komvopoulos, director of the camp.
His Holiness in his speech, after referring to the event of the Transfiguration of the Savior, noted:
“Certainly, as long as we live on this earth, the transfiguration on Mount Tabor is temporary. The bright cloud at some point lifts. Moses and Elias disappear and we return again to ordinary reality, but now in a different form, transformed, ready to transmit this transformation to a world that thirsts to taste the eternal Taborian light, which has been preserved for centuries now unadulterated by the Fanario Holy Christ Great Church, the Church of the Cross, the Church of the Resurrection, the Church of the Transfiguration!’
In the facilities of the Monastery, at the top of the hill of the island, every summer, with the exception of the last two years due to the pandemic, the “Paedopolis”, the children’s camp of the Patriarchate, where children of the Homogenia are accommodated, and not only, operates. His Holiness reminded that the Peidopolis Foundation, as well as the Working Youth Shelter, housed in the I. Monastery, were created by the late Patriarch Athenagoras and since then have been operating seamlessly in the green surroundings of Proti.
“We continue with all our hearts the blessing and protection of the Mother Church towards Paidopolis, because we recognize the need and the natural right of vacations for the children of the Homogeneity of our City, as they must also return to their desks in the autumn with renewed their strength and morale boosted, ready for the new challenge ahead.
We said that the Paidopolis and the Patriarchal Camp have been operating without interruption for many years. This is due, of course, first of all to the grace of the Lord, who loved you children so much that he set you up as an example to conquer the kingdom of heaven. Secondly, this is due to the affection and practical interest of the Mother Church. Thirdly, to the noble ladies of the Board of Directors, who, continuing the tradition of social well-being of the ladies of the recent and distant past of our Genus, offer their services with moving and exemplary willingness and sacrificial devotion to the success of this sacred work. Fourthly, to the active director His Excellency the Lord Prime Minister and teacher Mr. Diamantins Komvopoulos, who very successfully shoulders the responsible and painstaking work of the Directorate with his distinguished zeal for the healthy upbringing and education of our students. And fifth, the work we all see here is due to its many named or anonymous supporters.
Therefore, to the ladies, to the Directorate and to all those who help morally or materially this wonderful work, we address the warm thanks of the Great Church and ourselves personally and we bestow upon them our wholehearted Patriarchal blessing, wishing for rich retribution from the benevolent God ».
His Holiness warmly welcomed the presence of the representative of the Patriarch of the Armenians in Turkey, and welcomed the Metropolitan of Ioannina, the ‘Archontes officialis’ of the MTE, and all the faithful. Addressing the young shoots of Romanism, he said:
“In closing, we turn to you, our dear children, and wish you a happy holiday! Enjoy nature: the mountain, the trees, the sun, the sea. Everything was created by the good God for us humans. You have cultivated nice friendly bonds with each other. Love and help your elders, who love you and tire for you. Do not forget the duty of prayer inside the holy temple and outside it. The Church, the Community, the society expect a lot from you. We fatherly wish you not to disappoint anyone’s expectations and hopes. We will always be by your side, ready to support you in your beautiful struggle to conquer the spiritual peaks of the beautiful, the great and the true, i.e. all those values ​​that will make you truly happy in your life! May God always be with you!”
Concluding his speech, His Holiness said that on August 15, on the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin, he will go to Trebizond, where in the Monastery of Sumela, in this solemn respect for the Hellenism of the Pontus, he will preside over the Divine Liturgy.
Before the end of the celebratory event, His Holiness urged the Metropolitan of Ioannina, Maximos, to address reasons of spiritual edification to the children and their parents, which he did with grace and theological depth.
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