Divine Liturgy celebrated in the Church of St. George in Phanar to mark the 20th anniversary of election and enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew

On 22 October 2011, the great archimandrite of the Ecumenical Throne, Athenagoros celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church of St. George the Victorious in the Phanar to mark the 20^th anniversary of the election and enthronement of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.

Praying at the festive divine service were His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople; His Holiness and Beatitude Catholic-Patriarch Iliya II of All Georgia; His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia; His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All 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.

Metropolitan Constantine of Nicea was the first to greet His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew on behalf of hierarchs, clergymen and laymen.

Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk read out the congratulatory address of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and handed Patriarch Bartholomew the inscribed panagia as a gift.

The Primate of the Church of Constantinople thanked all those who addressed him for their warm wishes and noted that August 13 marked the 50^th anniversary of his ordination as deacon, recalled is studies at the Halki Theological School and its significance for his entire life.

Lunch was given at the Beity Restaurant in honour of all the guests.

That same day in the evening a festive reception was given in the Hilton Hotel in honour of His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia who is paying an official visit to the Orthodox Church of Constantinople.

Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk departed for Moscow after the festivities.