Ecumenical Patriarch Visits London for Centenary Celebrations of Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain

Today, October 21, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Camden Town for a Doxology service of Thanksgiving. In the evening, His All-Holiness will celebrate Great Vespers at the Church of St. Nektarios in Battersea, South London, which is also headquarters for “Olive Branch Aid,” the Archdiocesan foodbank. (See more photos.)

His All-Holiness visits London from October 20-25 for the Centenary Celebrations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira & Great Britain.

On October 20, His All-Holiness arrived at London Heathrow International Airport accompanied by a delegation of hierarchs, clergy and staff from the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He was received and welcomed to the United Kingdom on behalf of all the faithful of the Archdiocese by His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain, the V. Rev. Archimandrite Nephon Tsimalis, Director of the Office of the Archbishop, and the Rev. Archdeacon George Tsourous. His Excellency Mr Ioannis Raptakis, Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic, and Mr Gunes Yeslidag, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkiye, were also there and warmly welcomed His All-Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch.

In addition to the celebratory nature of this visit in honour of the Centenary Anniversary of the establishment of the Archdiocese, the Ecumenical Patriarch’s itinerary will have a strong pastoral focus. Of course, as “First Among Equals” His All-Holiness will fulfil obligations to meet with government officials and institutional heads, but Archbishop Nikitas has also allotted ample time for visits to parishes and ministry centres across London in order to highlight the multifaceted and people-oriented ministries of this historic Archdiocese, sharing first-hand with our Patriarch the pastoral, educational, spiritual, cultural, and charitable efforts of the local Orthodox communities.

The Patriarchal entourage includes His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, The V. Rev. Grand Ecclesiarch Aetius (Director of the Private Patriarchal Office), The V. Rev. Second Deacon Alexandros (Bibliophylax of the Ecumenical Patriarchate), The V. Rev. Grand Archimandrite Agathangelos (Archivist of the Ecumenical Patriarchate), and Mr. Nicholas Papachristou (Director of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Press and Communications Office).

Archdiocesan guests include: His Excellency Metropolitan Nektarios of Kition (Official Representative of the Archdiocese of New Justinianus and All Cyprus), His Eminence Metropolitan Theodoritos of Laodicea (Director of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Representation Office in Athens), His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Sebastia, Rev. Hieromonk Sophronios Vomend (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America), Mr. Christos Anastasiades, Mrs. Katia Anastasiades.