On Sunday, 4 August 2024, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Supplicatory Canon to the Mother of God at the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Neochori, Bosporus. After the service, His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Kydonia, Supervisor of the Bosphorus District, along with Vice Chairman of the Ecclesiastical Committee, Eugene Paraskevi (Rea) Kalfaoglou, warmly welcomed the Ecumenical Patriarch. In his address, Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his gratitude for the Community’s efforts and wished for peace, particularly in the conflict-ridden Middle East.
During the service, Ahmet Andreas Özgüneş, who converted to Orthodoxy 15 years ago, was invested as an Archon and conferred with the offikion of Notarios by the Ecumenical Patriarch. The Patriarch praised Mr. Özgüneş for his dedication to Christian principles and exemplary life within the ecclesiastical community, particularly highlighting his contributions to Antalya. Mr. Özgüneş expressed his heartfelt thanks for the honour bestowed upon him.
The 6th “Theotokia” cultural events were officially opened in the church courtyard after the service. The event featured an exhibition of selected photographs from two competitions held in memory of Mr. Nikolaos Magginas. Ms. Angeliki Giannakidou, founder and President of the Ethnological Museum of Thrace, delivered a speech on “Refugees from the East and Migrants of the West.” Archon Panteleimon Vigas, the inspirer of the “Theotokia” events, also delivered a greeting.
In recognition of his generous donation for repairing the Bell Tower of the Church of Panagia Koumariotissa, the Ecumenical Patriarch presented an honorary plaque to Mr. Serdal Koç, a businessman and member of the Jacobite Syrian community.
Earlier that day, the Ecumenical Patriarch attended the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Church, where he prayed from the altar. His Eminence Metropolitan Theoliptos of Iconium officiated at the Divine Liturgy. At the end of the liturgy, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew addressed the faithful, offering a special welcome to a group of pilgrims from Cyprus, accompanied by Protopresbyter Heraclidios Xiouros of the Holy Metropolis of Constantia and Famagusta, and distributed the antidoron to all the faithful present.