Ecumenical Patriarch: "Mount Athos occupies a unique position within Orthodox Monasticism"translated

A.Th. Panagiotis, the Ecumenical Patriarch etc. Bartholomew officiated, yesterday, Sunday, August 9, 2026, at the Divine Liturgy held in the Metochio of the I. Monastery of Agios Panteleimonos of Mount Athos, in Galata of the City, for the feast of the memory of Agios Panteleimonos of Iamatikos during the Julian calendar. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Panosiol. M. Archimandrite Mr. Iakovos, with the participation of Panosiol. Triteyonto Mr. Epiphaniou, and a large number of Russian-speaking believers attended the church.

In his speech, His Holiness expressed his joy at being in Metochi of Agios Panteleimonos to celebrate with the Russian-speaking Community of the City, while he made special reference to the important role that monasticism has in the life of our Church. "Mount Athos occupies a unique position within Orthodox Monasticism," said His Holiness, who characterized it as an ornament to the Miter of the Ecumenical Patriarch.

"We are proud because Mount Athos belongs to the spiritual jurisdiction and affection of the Mother Church of Constantinople. It is a place of prayer and peaceful, fraternal coexistence, where Greeks, Russians, Serbs, Bulgarians, Romanians, all live together as real brothers...