The video and congratulations were distributed by the official page of the OCU on Facebook.
“60 years ago, on August 13, 1961, a young graduate of the patriarchal Theological School on Halki island, Dimitri Archondonis, was ordained a deacon, having received a new monastic name the day before – Bartholomew. Since then, his life has been completely devoted to serving the Lord and people, caring for the unity of world Orthodoxy, “building bridges” between nations and religions and restoring historical justice. Two and a half years ago, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church received a Tomos from the hands of his All-Holiness, which confirmed the canonical independence of our Church.
Today, on behalf of the fullness of the local Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, we once again thank Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and sincerely congratulate him on the anniversary of his deacon’s consecration. May the Lord accompany you in your pious deeds and give you the strength to preach His Word,” the congratulatory message reads.
Official OCU website also published the speech of Metropolitan Epifaniy after the Liturgy in the Assumption Church on the island of Imvros, in which the Primate of the OCU, on his own behalf and on behalf of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, congratulated Patriarch Bartholomew on the 60th anniversary of his ordination as a deacon and wished him “to continue to work with dignity, as the first among all of us, for the next many blessed years.”
“The place of your stay, work and prayer, is the Phanar, and this name reminds us of the lamp. And on this solemn day, we all sincerely wish you to continue, as you are still, to be a servant of the Divine Light, an example of faith, a model in work for the Church, for the people of God,” Metropolitan Epifaniy said to Patriarch Bartholomew.
RISU, risu.ua
