Ecumenical Patriarch: Orthodoxy and Romanism, our faith and language are inseparable

Orthodoxy and Romanism, our faith and language are inseparable, said the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, obviously excited, addressing students of the High School-Lyceum Painting of the City, who sang on the afternoon of Friday, March 25 of Vlacherna, the butt of the Akathistos Hymn “Ti Ypermacho”, in the same place where it was first heard in 626 AD.

The Patriarch congratulated the young shoots of the Greek Diaspora, three of which presented the history of the Hymn, as well as the high school principal and their teachers, who with their teaching, their example and the ecclesiology of the students, “put you in the mystery “Orthodoxy and Romanism. These two are inseparable. Orthodoxy and Romanism. Our faith and language. This should be the lesson you take tonight from Vlacherna for your whole life.”

Previously, His Holiness officiated at the Vespers of the Assumption of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Virgin, during which he sang by the Patriarch himself, according to the centuries-old ruling order, the Third Station of Greetings.

The divine word was preached by the patriarchal deacon Ieronymos Sotirelis.

The Metropolitan of Prussia Ioakeim, the Consuls General of Greece in the City, Georgia Sultanopoulou, and of Ukraine, Roman Nedilskyi, George Koumoutsakos, a member of the Greek Parliament, officials of the Ukrainian consulate, and a large number of believers from abroad attended the church.

The speech of the Patriarch

In his speech, immediately afterwards, the Patriarch made special reference to the Standing Hymn, which is sung during the period of Holy and Great Lent in all the temples of the Orthodox world and moves the hearts of Christians.

“However, hearing this exquisite hymn to the Warrior General of our City in the sanctity of the area and the surroundings of the Temple of the historic Vlacherna, where it was first sung fourteen centuries ago, repents us and makes us reflect and experience deeper. this miracle of our uninterrupted presence in this blessed place, despite the ruins of the times and the change of circumstances.

We thank and praise God for this privilege he has given us, as every year, so this year too to come here during the DG Station of Greetings to the Most Holy Theotokos, to honor all together they gave birth to the cause of our common resurrection, and to exclaim “Hail, resurrected type of radiant, rejoicing, the life of the Angels appearing”. In this verse there is a clear reference to the Resurrection of our Lord, which we look forward to celebrating and for which we prepare again with joy but also with special expectation.

This period of our spiritual supply is inextricably linked with the honor and reverence for Our Lady Mother, whose help and grace we ask for, as “many times a motherly prayer is valid for the Despot’s favor”. Really, where else but in her loving motherly arms can she find greater understanding and fairy tale, consolation and relief, the man who is afflicted by any pain? It is thought that She, the Virgin Mary, undertook to continue the work of her Son, who had addressed the comforting invitation “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Such is the love and affection of the Mother of God for the people who are in pain, so that the church hymnography has called her “joy of the sorrowful” and the religious literature, “Mother of the sorrowful”: “Glory to the pain that broke you, Mother of sad “”.

The Patriarch then pointed out that the Virgin Mary, who saw “her Son hanging on a tree and lying dead in memory”, shares better than anyone the grief of mothers who are already mourning the loss of their children in the fratricidal war in Ukraine .

Referring to his forthcoming visit to Poland, where millions of refugees from hard-to-reach Ukraine have taken refuge, he said he would meet with them to convey a message of consolation and hope.

“Our Lady knows from sufferings, afflictions, rejections, as” she gave birth to her firstborn son “in the manger of the horses,” because this is not their place in the lodge. “The Mother of God has experienced refuge herself, as He fled to Egypt at night after her child, in order to save him from those who asked for his soul. just like Poland, which opened its arms wide to welcome millions of Ukrainians who were taken into exile because of the horrific war raging in their country.

We are going to this hospitable country on Sunday evening, as you will already be informed, at the kind invitation of the President of Poland, His Excellency Andrei Duda, but also of His Beatitude the Orthodox Church, Brother Mitrovol. That is why we came here tonight, to ask for the mediation of Vlacherniotissa, in order to transfer from the Crucified Holy Resurrection Church the Great Church to our hardworking and burdened brothers refugees from Ukraine who found refuge in Poland, a message of consolation and hope. We go there to see them face to face and say to them “Courage our children! We know that the cross you lift is heavy and we have come as concomitants. Do not give up! Put your trust in the Leader and finisher of our faith, the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will find recreation! Anastasis is coming! “Christ is Risen” will be heard again as a victorious paean “”.

Source: AMPE