SATURDAY OF THE SOULS DURING THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE GREAT SYNOD OF ORTHODOX CHURCHES
On the 5th/18th of June 2016, Saturday of the Souls, divine Liturgy was held at the Monastic Church of the Annunciation of Theotokos, of the Bishopric of Kisamos and Selinos. The service was held together with a memorial for the repose of the souls of those who fought for our Orthodox faith and all departed Hierarchs and other clerics and laymen, members of Orthodox Churches, who have worked for the preparation and convention of the Holy and Great Synod of Orthodoxy.
The divine Liturgy and memorial service were led by His Beatitude Theodoros, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, having as concelebrants the Heads of the Orthodox Churches participating in the Synod’s deliberations, namely: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem, Patriarch Daniel of Romania, Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens, Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, Archbishop Savva of Poland and Archbishop Ratislav of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. On the conclusion of the divine Liturgy, Ecumencial Patriarch Bartholomew performed a special memorial for the repose of the soul of Metropolitan Irineos Galanakis of Kisamos and Selinos, buried in the forecourt of the Church.
After being hosted to breakfast by the Bishopric of Kisamos and Selinos, the Patriarchal Entourages left for Heraklion.
There, at the Atlantis Hotel, their Holinesses the Heads of Churches and their Attendants were welcomed by the Representatives of the Holy Archbishopric of Crete, clerics and laymen, the monastic brotherhoods, the Mayoral Authorities and the faithful in front of the Apostle Titos Cathedral.
Mr Lambrinos, Mayor of Heraklion went on to address guests, upon which Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew made a reply-speech.
Doxology was then performed at the Cathedral, followed by an address by Archbishop Irineos of Crete and the Ecumenical Patriarch, and the Vespers of Pentecost, led by Patriarch Bartholomew, having as concelebrants the Heads of the Autocephalous Orthodox Churches.
After Vespers, the Holy Regional Synod of the Church of Crete hosted guests to dinner.
From the Secretariat-General