Ecumenical Patriarch from Imbro: "My love for monasticism connects me to Mount Athos"translated

With the presence of A.Th.P. of the Ecumenical Patriarch, Mr. Bartholomew, on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at the Cultural Center of Saints Theodore of Imbro, the anniversary events organized by the Agios Theocratic Ministry of Thessaloniki and the Holy Metropolis of Imbro and Tenedo, on the occasion of the completion of 35 years of Patriarchy and 65 years of priestly ministry of the Ecumenical Patriarch. "With Mount Athos, apart from my institutional role, since the current Ecumenical Patriarch is the Bishop of Mount Athos, I am also connected by an emotional reason, my love for monasticism, but also that, during my ordination 65 years ago, I received the name of Bartholomew of Koutloumusian, who always proudly signed himself "Imbrios". This is another emotional reason. And proof of my love for Mount Athos is that I visited it eight times."

With these words, the Ecumenical Patriarch Mr. Bartholomew began his closing speech. In addition, he warmly thanked the Agioreitiki Estia in the person of its director for its presence for another year in Imbros, while he made a special mention and thanks to Mr. Chrysochoidis, for...