ADDRESS OF H.B. THE PATRIARCH OF JERUSALEM THEOPHILOS III AT THE DINNER IN THE COMMUNITY HALL-CONSTANTINOPLE.
Constantinople, March 7TH, 2014
Your All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I,
Venerable Patriarchs and Archbishops,
Primates of the Holy Orthodox Churches,
Your Eminence Metropolitan Eireneos of Myriophyton and Peristasis,
Beloved brothers in Christ,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The gift of the grace of God is truly great for Us to be present here with you in the Queen of cities, the city of Constantine the Great, the city where the Ecumenical Synods took place, and to be extended hospitality in the embrace of the Great Church of Christ at the brotherly invitation of Our beloved brother in Christ, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
It is also truly great that We, as representatives of Our flocks, which have been entrusted to Us, overcame obstacles, surpassed impediments, and have disregarded differences between Us, not giving them attention whatsoever. We have gathered here, all together, in the same place so that we can confess Our undisputed Orthodox faith in love and in the union of peace, especially today with the service of the Akathyst Hymn, which was chanted for the first time in this city, and on the upcoming Sunday of Orthodoxy, in Our declaration proclaiming the holy icons as a confirmation of the salvific truth, i.e. the Incarnation of the Son and Word of God by the Holy Spirit and through the Ever-Virgin Mary, our Lord and God Jesus Christ.
Therefore, We are grateful to God for His gift to Us; Our calling to be children of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Church of Christ, as well as participants of this Synaxis. We are aware of the responsibility that has been placed on Our shoulders. Let Us prepare ourselves in prayer and humility, and giving the honor to the others for the Holy and Great Synod of Orthodoxy, so that through it, We may confess the reason of life to both Our flocks and to the world, for the salvation of all people and for the glory of Our Triune God.
Therefore, we warmly thank His-All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for his Abrahamic hospitality in the tents of the Great Church of Christ. We would also like to thank His Eminence Metropolitan Eireneos of Myriophyton and Peristasis, as well as the President of the Community Hall, Mr. Georgios Papaliaris, for the offering of this dinner, and to all those who assisted in the harmonious function of this Pan-Orthodox Synaxis.
Thank you.
His Beatitude
THEOPHILOS III
Patriarch of Jerusalem