Greek Orthodox Church Spiritual Leader Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I prayed at the Saint Stephan Church in Eğirdir on Saturday.
Patriarch Bartholomeos visited Metropolitan of Pisidia Sotirios Trampas and St. Stephen Church in Eğirdir. The people coming from Greece and Korea animated the event with their music.
After the Metropolitan of Psidia Sotirios Trampas informed the visitors about the church and its history, His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I said, “You have shown your respect to the other religions by restoring this church which belonged to our grandfathers. You have shown your respect for the common values of mankind more broadly. We are grateful to you as congregation, as Christians, as Turkish citizens and our Christian brothers who came from other countries. You do not expect votes from us nor do you expect anything else. We appreciate you with your enthusiasm. When all the restoration will be completed in the future, with the permission of the relevant authorities we will celebrate the Holy Liturgy that we cannot do today. It will give us great happiness. We ask you to convey our best wishes to all the people of Eğirdir.”
Mayor Omer Şengöl said, “My services are not for voting. It is only for the sake of Allah, the sole Lord of all. For this reason, I am doing all that I can according to the authority given to me by law for all the people in Eğirdir, including the non-believers. I have friendships with the grandchildren and children of families who migrated from the island to Greece in 1922. I greet you with a warm welcome for this occasion.”
Then, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and whose who were accompanying him went to Antalya. The Ecumenical Patriarch participated to the Holy Liturgy in Antalya on Sunday, July 15 for the the Pamphylian and Pisidian Saints’ Feast Day held in the Greek Orthodox Church of Antalya.
