Russian Orthodox hierarch takes part in the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the election and enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople
A festive reception sponsored by the Archons of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called took place in Istanbul on 21 October 2011 to honour the 20th anniversary of the election and enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.
Attending the reception were His Holiness and Beatitude Catholicos-Patriarch Iliya of All Georgia; His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia on his official visit to the Orthodox Church of Constantinople; His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Albania; hierarchs, clerics and laymen from the Local Orthodox Churches.
The Russian Orthodox Church was represented by Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA.
While greeting His Holiness, Archbishop Demetrios of America (Patriarchate of Constantinople) commended Patriarch Bartholomew’s services in the process of preparation for the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church.
His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew thanked God for joys and sorrows that have befallen the years of his Patriarchal ministry and said that he will continue it, “pouring the anointing oil to the icon-lamp of Orthodoxy.”