This year, on Saturday, April 23, a special and busy day was held in the Archdiocese of Izmir. Firstly, at 10:00 in the morning, the closing session of the first phase of the Izmir Archdiocese Synod started at the St. Polycarp Church with the participation of the Vatican’s Ambassador to Turkey, Monsignor Marek Solczyński.
After the opening prayer, the welcome speech and introductory words by the Archbishop of Izmir, Monsignor Martin; P. Antuan Ilgıt, the Private Secretary of the Anatolian Spiritual Headship, was given the floor.
The second speech was given by the Franciscan Priest Father Felianus Dogon, Coordinator of the Izmir Archdiocese Synod. In his morning talk, he presented a summary of the exchange of ideas among believers at the 11 Synod meetings held in various churches. After the section devoted to faith and life experiences, he first noted the strengths, then the weaknesses, then the opportunities, threats, and suggestions.
The third speech was given by the Archbishop of Izmir, Monsignor Martin Kmetec, and he listed and explained the sections after the “Synod: The Word that Liberates”, “One Heart”, “Gift of the Holy Spirit”, “Expropriation and Purification”. He then concluded with the subjects: “Awareness: The Fragility of Our Church”, “Synod as a Progress”, “Implementation: suggestions for the future”.
After lunch and rich conversations in the garden of St. Polycarp Church, a few people took the floor in the afternoon and shared their experiences about their faith and life, including the factors and interests that led to deepening their faith and devotion, and a presentation on Caritas was also conveyed to the people in the hall.
At 4.00 pm, all participants went to St. John’s Cathedral for the ceremony of İzmir Metropolitan Archbishop Monsignor Martin Kmetec’s wearing the Shepherding Symbol – Latin name Pallium. Istanbul Latin Catholic Spiritual Chief Monsignor Massimiliano Palinuro and Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Turkey Monsignor Levon Zekiyan also attended the ceremony.
While the choir of the Cathedral under the direction of Ozan Karagöz, Serkan Şahin who plays the organ and Mesut Kalaycı, the attendant of the Cathedral, accompanied this magnificent ceremony with appropriate chants, the entrance procession took place. The Vatican’s Ambassador to Turkey chaired the first section.
Following the remarks, Monsignor Martin knelt before the Vatican Ambassador and, after uttering the Apostolic Confession, Msgr. Marek, said a special prayer for Pallium and he put it on the Archbishop’s shoulder,.
After the applause, the ceremony continued in the usual ritual style. After the Words from the Gospel of Christ Jesus, written by St. John, were read by Father Ireneusz, the Archbishop of Izmir said in his sermon: “Blessed are those who believe without seeing.” This word is for all of us. Faith no longer depends on proof, but on the testimony of those who see; so we can also believe in Christ and meet Him by believing in this testimony.” (SAT-7 TÜRK/İZMİR-Nathalie Ritzmann)
