Imbros, Turkey, August 14, 2026
Photo: Romfea
Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople marked the 65th anniversary of his ordination to the diaconate with a concelebrated Liturgy on his native island of Imbros, joined by Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and Archbishop John of Albania.
The service on Thursday, August 13, took place at the Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral, marking the Leave-taking of the Transfiguration, reports Romfea.
The primates were joined by five other hierarchs, including the local hierarch, Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imbros, and Abbot Bartholomew of New Esphigmenou Monastery on Mt. Athos.
Before the dismissal, Patriarch Bartholomew held a memorial service for his mentor, the late Metropolitan Meliton of Chalcedon, who ordained him a deacon on the same date in 1961 and gave him his monastic name after St. Bartholomew of Koutloumousi, who was connected to Imbros.
In his homily, Patriarch Bartholomew recalled the day of his ordination in vivid detail, describing how Metropolitan Meliton had chosen his name to link him to a figure who combined priesthood with scholarship. He said two phrases from that day had stayed with him ever since: Metropolitan Meliton’s charge that he was being called “to teach the word of God,” and the Gospel image of the disciples at the Transfiguration who, lifting their eyes, “saw no one but Jesus alone”—words he said became a compass for his life and priesthood.
Patriarch Bartholomew reflected on his debt to Imbros and to the Halki Theological School, where he studied, and thanked the islanders who remained after what he called “the black year of 1964” for keeping the churches open and the community’s identity alive for those who later returned. He noted with gratitude the reopening of Imbros’ schools and the renewed interest of young Imbriots in their heritage, and thanked his fellow primates, the local clergy, monastics, and the Greek government representatives for attending.
Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon, speaking on behalf of the hierarchy of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, noted that the anniversary marks not an enthronement or elevation but Patriarch Bartholomew’s ordination to the diaconate—“the silent service at the holy Table”—and said the day’s significance lies in the fact that, in the Church’s consciousness, “a deacon never ceases to be a deacon,” even upon ascending to Patriarchal throne.
Archbishop John of Albania recalled that Patriarch Bartholomew’s tenure saw the convening of the Holy and Great Council in Crete a decade ago, and praised his role in restoring Orthodox worship to places long silenced, including Cappadocia and Panagia Soumela.
Photo: Romfea
He also thanked the Patriarchate of Constantinople for its historic support of the Albanian Church during and after its recovery from communist-era persecution, when churches and monasteries had been shuttered or destroyed and clergy imprisoned or exiled, crediting the late Archbishop Anastasios, sent to Albania as Patriarchal Exarch, with reviving the autocephalous Church there.
A festive banquet followed, attended by Imbros’ mayor, Bülent Ecevit Atalay.
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