As every year, on the day that coincides with the 15th of August, the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was celebrated in a splendid manner at the House of Virgin Mary on the Bülbül Mountain in İzmir Selçuk.
Before the Holy Eucharist Rite began, the procession leaving the chapel towards the area opposite the cistern near the House of Virgin Mary, along with the first grapes and figs, as well as bread and cereal, were consecrated by Monsignor Martin Kmetec, the Latin Catholic Archbishop of Izmir.
The ceremony was led by the Italian Archbishop of Milan, Monsignor Mario Delpini, and the Izmir Archbishop Monsignor Martin and the Chaldean Diyarbakir Emeritus (Retired) Archbishop Monsignor Ramzi Garmou accompanied the ceremony. Don Maurizio Zago, comrade of the Archbishop of Milan, Father James Buxton from the Anglican Church of Izmir, priests from different churches in Izmir and Antalya also attended the service. In addition, Noel Micaleff, President of the Virgin Mary House Association, also took part in the celebration.
After reading the words from the Revelation chapter and the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, Father Igor Barbini, High Priest of the Rosario Church in Alsancak, read the Words from the Gospel of Jesus Christ, written by St. Luke.
Mons, Delpini, who preaches the main theme of “Clear and true” developed two topics, first he said, “The Enemy of Good wants to convince us that the truth of the world and of life is self-evident”, and then he said “Mary sings the hymn of truth.”
At the end of the service, Monsignor Martin Kmetec expressed his deep gratitude to the Archbishop of Milan for his visit.
The Rector of the temple thanked Father Robert Bondea, the Capuchin Priests, and the Congregation of the Disciples of Mary and the Apostle John for their pastoral and spiritual service at this temple. He also thanked the police personnel, including the Virgin Mary House Association and the gendarmerie.
Monsignor Garmou spoke briefly in Arabic and French, while the choir composed of volunteers from the Izmir community sang hymns, and Yasemin Perşembe brought joy to the ceremony by playing the organ.
After the ceremony was over, the congregation was invited to the garden of the Virgin Mary House Association for a treat given by the association.
All day hundreds of visitors came to the national sanctuary of the Virgin Mary. Therefore, it was necessary to wait for a long time to enter the house.
(SAT-7 TÜRK /Nathalie Ritzmann-İzmir)
