On January 6, at the İzmir Santa Maria Church, while the Epiphany Day (Baptism) was directed by İzmir Archbishop Mgr Lorenzo Piretto, a mass of gratitude was held for him. Father Ugo, the priest of St. John’s Cathedral, also accompanied the ceremony. Archbishops from Catholic churches in İzmir, Virgin Mary House in Ephesus and Antalya Catholic Church attended the ceremony.
In addition to Italy’s İzmir Consul Valerio Giorgio and France’s İzmir Honorary Consul Zeliha Toprak, the representatives of the city’s Protestant, Baptist and Anglican communities also attended the ceremony.
After reading the Words from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah and Words from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians, the Deacon read verses from the Bible of St. Matthew.
Afterwards, Monsignor Piretto welcomed the diplomats and participants from different communities and said in his sermon: “Today we are celebrating Epiphany. Today’s biblical text shows us that the first worshipers of the King Christ were pagans. The three astrologers were guided by a star, then Scripture, to reach Bethlehem. They came before this newborn and presented her gifts: gold; king, olibanum; God and myrrh shows that he’s a mortal man.
This month I would also like to thank the Lord for serving as Bishop for five years in İzmir. “Mercy” is written on my coat of arms. Yes, the Lord always looked at me with infinite mercy. He gave me his grace. He gave me light, hope and solace in difficult situations. How many times has he forgiven me! But to the Mother of God, the Virgin Mary of Ephesus, who always held my hand; I express my gratitude to all the apostles and saints who proclaimed and testified in these Holy Lands: John, Paul, Philip, Polycarp. I have always felt protected by them. I thank the priests, nuns and all Catholic believers. I have always felt your love and support. Let’s pray for Father Martin, who will take up his duty as the new Bishop on February 2nd. Keep praying for me and my new assignment in İstanbul, he said.
After the mass is over, in the message sent by Martin Kmetec, that Father Ugo, Archbishop of İzmir read in Italian, “At the moment Archbishop of Smyrna greeted and thanked its Shepherd, I am uniting with you all. To God and to the bishop who takes care of the Church and takes care of it; I want to thank on behalf of the priests, devotees and everyone ”. sentences were included.
Then Father Gabriel spoke to Bishop Lorenzo, both on behalf of the priests and personally thanking him for his presence: “First of all, thank you for your services while you are in İzmir, but above all for being with us and being” you “.
During your tenure, you have earned the admiration of the entire congregation, whether Levantine, Turkish or foreign. During the 5 years of your episcopacy, a rare atmosphere of brotherhood prevailed within the İzmir Priests’ Assembly, from which you were definitely not far away. İzmir Christian community owes its gratitude to you for your natural courtesy, communicative joy and wise personality, as well as for leading the boat of the Church in a prudent and open-minded manner in the stormy waters caused by the realities of the country. “
Then Father Pietro, the High Priest of the Church of Santa Maria, to thank for his 5-year service on behalf of all priests, nuns and devotees, gave to Mgr Lorenzo a silver medallion with the image of an ancient icon that St. John trained the young St. Polycarp. Nathalie Ritzmann (SAT-7 TÜRK, İzmir)
