Written permission was given to Fanari to hold a divine service at Panagia Soumela on the fifteenth of August.

It is recalled that, as reported by ERT, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was particularly sharp regarding the injustices that the Patriarchate receives, but also those who talk about him violating the Treaty of Lausanne due to the mass at Panagia Sumela on August 15th.

During the plea he made yesterday to Panagia Koumariotissa in Nichori in Constantinople, the Ecumenical Patriarch mentioned that until that time the written permission for the liturgy in Sumela on the fifteenth of August has not reached the Fanari. It is recalled that initially the Fanari was verbally informed that permission would not be granted this year to hold the liturgy at Panagia Soumela and then it was informed, again verbally, that the permission was finally granted.

“Until now we have not received the written permission. It’s just verbal messages. After receiving them, we as the Patriarchate again issued a statement and said that the liturgy will be held again this year at Panagia Sumela”, said the Ecumenical Patriarch in his sermon, to then embellish the reaction of a Turkish member of parliament from the small “New Prosperity Party” , who spoke of a violation of the Treaty of Lausanne with the operation in Sumela.

“Last night I was reading the newspaper clippings about the reactions that arose after the positive license was issued. A member of parliament from a small new party submitted a question to the parliament in Ankara, reacting and protesting my going there for the liturgy that I will do with God, if I will do it in the end… And the member of parliament said that with this liturgy, the Treaty of Lausanne. How come;” he wondered.

Others do not apply Lausanne, he continued, giving as an example the closed Theological School of Chalkis, but also the decimation of the population of Imbros and Tenedos with the events of ’64.

“If there is a violation of Lausanne, it exists in Imbro and Tenedo, it exists in the Theological School of Halki. Which Lausanne, as you know, a few days ago completed 100 years after it was signed in Switzerland. July 24 marked 100 years since the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne. Lausanne also says other things. For my hometown Imbro and beyond. For our own and our right to theological education. Halki remains closed. Lausanne says things that we lack, they didn’t give us until now. And the deputy is coming to tell us that we are violating the treaty” said Mr. Bartholomew with meaning in the indignant speech he uttered.

ERT/SKAIGR