Department for External Church Relations
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Participants in the sea cruise meet with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and representatives of the Greek Orthodox Church
Participants in the sea cruise devoted to the 90th anniversary of the exodus of Russian Army units and civil refugees from the Crimea met with representatives of the Local Orthodox Churches in jurisdiction of places to which Russian compatriots escaped in 1920, including Bizert under the Patriarchate of Alexandria, Athens and the Island of Lemnos under the Greek Orthodox Church and Gallipoli and Istanbul under the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
After making pilgrimages to Athens on July 20 and the Island of Lemnos on July 21 and visiting churches and having contacts with local clergy there, they met on July 22 with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the head of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Greeting His Holiness, Mr. V. Yakunin, chairman of the St. Andrew the-First-Called Foundation’s patrons board and the Center of Russia’s National Glory, stressed the significance of the sea cruise for healing the wounds inflicted by the October Revolution and the Civil War to the unity of the Russian society. Bishop Michael of Geneva and Western Europe spoke about the destiny of the Russians who left Russia 90 years ago, using the example of this own parents. Hegumen Philip Riabykh greeted His Holiness Bartholomew on behalf of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and noted the importance of the sea cruise for reviving public life in the countries of historical Russia on the basis of Orthodox tradition.
Then Patriarch Bartholomew said the office for the dead in the Church of St. George the Conqueror for all the Russians who died 90 years ago during the exodus of the Russian Fleet and civil refugees from the Crimea. After the service His Holiness Bartholomew had a talk with his guests at his residence.
In the evening of that day, the All-Night Vigil was celebrated in the church of Sts Constantine and Helen Equal-to-the-Apostles in Istanboul, which was consecrated a year ago by Patriarchs Bartholomew and Kirill. Bishop Michael officiated, assisted by Archimandrite Vissarion of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Hegumen Philip and Archpriest Alexander Nosevich of the Greek Orthodox Church.
Patriarch
Department Chairman
Sermons
24.01.2021
06.11.2020